Tencent Refutes Sony’s Lawsuit Alleging Horizon Zero Dawn Clone
Earlier in 2025, Sony filed a lawsuit against the Chinese multinational technology giant Tencent, accusing its upcoming open-world survival game, Light of Motiram, of being a “slavish clone” of Sony’s acclaimed game Horizon Zero Dawn. The lawsuit criticized the game for allegedly copying distinctive elements and imagery from the Horizon franchise. However, Tencent has now issued an official response rejecting these allegations, arguing that Sony’s claims represent an overreach designed to monopolize common video game genres.
Background of the Legal Dispute
Sony’s lawsuit specifically targets Tencent and several related entities, as well as unnamed defendants, over the production of Light of Motiram, a game currently scheduled for release in 2027. The company alleges that Tencent’s game unlawfully appropriates themes, mechanics, and design elements from Horizon Zero Dawn and its spinoffs. Furthermore, Sony has noted that after its refusal to collaborate with Tencent on the project, Light of Motiram was publicly announced, prompting the litigation.
In response to the lawsuit, Tencent’s subsidiary Polaris Quest, which is developing Light of Motiram, removed all references to robot mastodons and characters resembling Horizon’s protagonist Aloy from the game’s Steam page, demonstrating a willingness to distance the game from direct comparisons.
Tencent’s Defense and Industry Context
In its formal statement, Tencent described Sony’s lawsuit as “an improper attempt to fence off a well-trodden corner of popular culture and declare it Sony’s exclusive domain.” The company emphasizes that Horizon Zero Dawn’s alleged uniqueness is disputed even by Sony’s own developers. For instance, art director Jan-Bart van Beek previously acknowledged that Horizon’s concept shared similarities with the 2013 game Enslaved: Odyssey to the West.
Tencent argues that Sony’s effort attempts to claim ownership over widely used genre conventions, which have been long established across numerous games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Outer Wilds. The company maintains that such ingredients are ubiquitous in the industry and cannot be monopolized.
Key Points in Tencent’s Response:
- Incorrect Defendants Targeted: Tencent asserts that its parent company and other named entities do not directly develop or market Light of Motiram, which is handled by Polaris Quest.
- Premature Legal Action: With Light of Motiram slated for a 2027 release, Tencent highlights that the lawsuit is based on speculative and hypothetical claims about a game not yet available.
- Industry Norms: The response highlights that many game developers employ similar themes, such as post-apocalyptic open-worlds with robotic creatures, a genre trope recognized broadly in gaming culture.
Broader Implications and Industry Perspective
This lawsuit reflects a growing tension in the gaming industry regarding intellectual property rights and the boundaries of creativity within established genres. As open-world survival games become increasingly popular, disputes about originality and inspiration are more frequent.
Legal experts note that while protecting genuine innovation is essential, overextending claims to “generic” game mechanics can stifle creativity. For example, a 2024 analysis by the Entertainment Software Association found that over 60% of new game releases belong to recurring genres with overlapping design elements, making strict IP enforcement challenging.
Moreover, Tencent’s rebuttal cites the vital role of acknowledging industry standards, referencing prior recognition from Sony’s development team of Horizon Zero Dawn itself borrowing from earlier games. This acknowledgement underscores how interconnected and iterative game design has become.
What’s Next?
Tencent’s official response was published in September 2025, two months after Sony’s initial lawsuit in July. The legal proceedings are expected to be complex and prolonged given the nuances of intellectual property in game design. While Light of Motiram’s launch remains on the horizon, this case could establish important precedents about how far companies can claim exclusivity over widely used game features and aesthetics.
Industry observers and gamers alike will watch as this dispute unfolds, with implications for developers, publishers, and the boundaries of creative expression in open-world survival games.
Summary
- Sony sued Tencent, accusing its upcoming game Light of Motiram of copying Horizon Zero Dawn.
- Tencent firmly denies the allegations, calling it an attempt to monopolize common game genre elements.
- The defense cites both previous acknowledgments by Sony developers and the wide use of genre conventions.
- The lawsuit is considered premature, as Light of Motiram is still in development with no release yet.
- The case highlights the challenges in balancing IP protection and creative freedom in the gaming industry.
