A high-profile legal clash between two gaming giants has reached a quiet conclusion. The dispute centered on Tencent's upcoming title Light of Motiram, which Sony alleged was a "slavish clone" of its acclaimed Horizon Zero Dawn franchise. After months of legal filings and public accusations, the companies have reached a confidential settlement, resulting in the apparent cancellation of the controversial game. This article details the lawsuit's progression, the core arguments from both sides, and the implications of this private resolution for the industry.
The Genesis of the Legal Dispute
The conflict began in earnest in late July 2025 when Sony Interactive Entertainment, the parent company of Guerrilla Games, filed a copyright and trademark infringement lawsuit against Tencent in a California court. Sony's complaint meticulously outlined what it perceived as overwhelming similarities between Light of Motiram and the Horizon series. The lawsuit pointed to a shared post-apocalyptic setting overrun by animal-inspired machines, specific environmental backdrops like tropical forests and snowy mountains, and most notably, a red-haired female protagonist whose design and attire bore a striking resemblance to Horizon's Aloy, complete with a similar high-tech earpiece device. Sony formally labeled the game a "knock-off" and sought a preliminary injunction to halt its pre-release promotion.
Alleged Similarities Between Light of Motiram and Horizon Zero Dawn:
- Setting: Post-apocalyptic world overrun by animal-like machines.
- Environments: Tropical forests, deserts, snowy mountains.
- Protagonist: Red-haired female character with similar visual design and outfit.
- Gadget: Device similar to Aloy's "Focus" earpiece.
- Core Gameplay: Open-world action-adventure with machine combat.
Tencent's Defense and Counter-Arguments
In response, Tencent filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit in September 2025. The Chinese conglomerate's defense was multifaceted. It challenged the jurisdiction of the California court and argued that the elements Sony claimed to own were merely "well-trodden" genre tropes, not unique intellectual property. In a bold strategic move, Tencent cited internal Guerrilla Games history, noting that the Horizon Zero Dawn concept was initially discarded by its own developers for being too similar to Ninja Theory's Enslaved: Odyssey to the West. Tencent's argument aimed to undermine the originality of Sony's IP, suggesting that Horizon itself was built from "ubiquitous genre ingredients" common to many open-world action games.
The Road to a Confidential Settlement
The legal battle took a decisive turn just two weeks prior to the current date, when Sony succeeded in obtaining a court order forcing Tencent to stop promoting Light of Motiram. This set the stage for further court proceedings scheduled for January 2026. However, those dates are now moot. On December 17, 2025, new court filings revealed that the parties had reached a "confidential settlement," resolving both Sony's lawsuit and Tencent's counter-suit. The terms of the agreement are not public, and both companies are responsible for their own legal fees. A statement from Sony indicated the companies "look forward to working together in the future," suggesting the resolution was amicable, if not entirely favorable to Tencent's project.
Key Legal Timeline:
- Late July 2025: Sony files lawsuit against Tencent for copyright infringement over Light of Motiram.
- September 2025: Tencent files a motion to dismiss, countering that Horizon's concepts are not original.
- Early December 2025: Court grants Sony's request to halt promotion of Light of Motiram.
- December 17, 2025: Court filings confirm a "confidential settlement" has been reached.
- December 18, 2025: Light of Motiram is confirmed removed from Steam and Epic Games Store.
The Practical Outcome: Disappearance of Light of Motiram
The most tangible result of the settlement is the effective cancellation of Light of Motiram. As of mid-December 2025, the game has been completely removed from digital storefronts. Its page on Steam has been retired and is no longer accessible, with links redirecting to the store's homepage. The game has also been delisted from the Epic Games Store. Tencent had previously altered the game's Steam presence in the wake of the lawsuit, swapping out screenshots that prominently featured the Aloy-like character, but these measures proved insufficient to save the project. The disappearance from all major PC platforms strongly indicates that the game, at least in its contested form, will not see a release.
Industry Implications and Looking Forward
This settlement underscores the increasing vigilance of major IP holders in protecting their franchises in a global market, especially against perceived clones from powerful competitors. It also highlights the legal risks associated with games that closely emulate the distinctive aesthetics and mechanics of established hits. For players, the saga closes one potential avenue for a Horizon-like experience but points to others. NCSOFT is developing Steel Frontiers, an MMORPG with similar themes for PC and mobile, while Guerrilla Games continues work on its own official online co-op project set within the Horizon universe. The quiet end to this dispute allows both Sony and Tencent to move forward, potentially on collaborative ventures, having avoided a protracted and public legal war.