Tencent Responds to Light of Motiram Lawsuit, Claims Horizon Developers Admitted Lack of Originality

Since the launch of Light of Motiram> in November 2024, its striking resemblance to Guerrilla Games’ Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West has stirred notable controversy. The similarities range from the animal-like machines to a tribal-clad red-haired protagonist, leading many to draw immediate parallels between the two franchises.

In July 2025, the situation escalated when Sony Interactive Entertainment, the parent company of Guerrilla Games, initiated legal action against Tencent, the developer behind Light of Motiram, in California. The lawsuit alleges both copyright and trademark infringement, asserting that Tencent attempted to negotiate a mobile adaptation of the Horizon series before opting to create its own game inspired by the franchise.

In response, Tencent filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, highlighting several significant shortcomings in Sony’s allegations. The motion argues that:

Lack of Jurisdiction: Tencent Holdings, incorporated in the Cayman Islands and operating from China, argues that it is improperly included in the lawsuit, which addresses actions taken by the entities directly involved in the game’s development that have yet to be served legal documents.
Speculation Over Actual Claims: The motion further points out that since the release of Light of Motiram is still years away, scheduled for Q4 2027 on Steam, there are no actual infringements to be considered at this juncture.
Misguided Attempt at Cultural Control: Tencent challenges the motivations behind Sony’s lawsuit, suggesting it represents a poorly executed effort by Sony to monopolize aspects of popular gaming culture.

Tencent’s motion reinforces its stance by citing comments from Guerrilla Games’ Lead Artist, Jan-Bart van Beek, who disclosed in a documentary that the design of Horizon was initially shelved due to its perceived similarities to Enslaved: Odyssey to the West. Van Beek highlighted the decision-making process that revolved around the game’s concept:

“Enslaved basically featured a post-apocalyptic world, a female protagonist, machines that were slumbering that would be awakened. So I myself went to Hermen and I said like, I don’t think we should do this. It touches too much of these other points.”

Tencent utilizes these insights to argue that the elements outlined in Sony’s lawsuit are common tropes found across many successful games, including The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Far Cry titles. Thus, the Chinese tech giant posits that Sony is overreaching in its claims for ownership of genre conventions.

Interestingly, evidence suggests that Tencent and its development team have made alterations to Light of Motiram to further distinguish it from the Horizon franchise. The protagonist, originally resembling Aloy, has been redesigned. Moreover, the game integrates survival mechanics like base building and offers online cooperative play—features not present in the Horizon series, although Guerrilla is currently developing an online version of its franchise.

As this legal battle unfolds, the outcome of Tencent’s motion to dismiss remains uncertain. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates on any significant developments in the lawsuit.

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