Sony Accuses Tencent of Copyright Infringement Over Horizon Series Clone

Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) has initiated a lawsuit against Tencent, alleging that the Chinese conglomerate has created a "slavish clone" of its critically acclaimed Horizon series in its upcoming title, Light of Motiram. The lawsuit, filed on July 25, 2025, in the Northern District of California, claims that Tencent's game is a "blatant" and "unlawful" copy of the Horizon franchise, which has become one of Sony's most valuable intellectual properties since its debut in 2017.

According to the lawsuit, SIE asserts that Tencent's Light of Motiram misappropriates the "overall tone, feel, sound, and appearance" of the Horizon games. The suit elaborates that the visual aesthetics of Light of Motiram, which blend lush natural environments with tribal culture and futuristic mechanical elements, are substantially similar to those found in Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West. "The overall impression conveyed by Tencent's adoption... is substantially similar to the Horizon audiovisual works and infringes the copyrights therein," the legal document states.

SIE further claims that Tencent has utilized a red-haired female main character in marketing, which they argue reflects a deliberate infringement of the character Aloy from the Horizon franchise. This character has garnered significant popularity and has become synonymous with the series.

In an interesting twist, SIE contends that Tencent had attempted to license the Horizon franchise in March 2024 to create a mobile game that would incorporate "Eastern aesthetics." This pitch was ultimately rejected by Sony, who considered the matter closed. However, SIE alleges that Tencent continued to develop Light of Motiram in secret, even after failing to secure the licensing agreement.

The lawsuit includes screenshots of the pitch deck presented by Tencent during their meeting, which reportedly included mock-ups of Eastern-inspired designs featuring Aloy in various settings. SIE claims that Tencent did not disclose that they were already working on a game based on Horizon IP assets during the negotiation.

SIE's rejection of Tencent's pitch was finalized on April 8, 2025, after which Tencent announced Light of Motiram later that year. As a result, SIE is seeking both a preliminary and permanent injunction to prevent Tencent from promoting and selling Light of Motiram. Additionally, the company is demanding damages of up to $150,000 for each alleged infringement of the Horizon franchise copyrights and seeks to have all infringing materials delivered for destruction.

This lawsuit highlights the ongoing tensions in the gaming industry regarding intellectual property rights and the protection of creative works. Experts in the field, such as Dr. Mark Thompson, Professor of Media Studies at Stanford University, suggest that such legal actions are increasingly common as the stakes in the gaming industry rise. "As video games continue to grow as a significant cultural and economic force, the protection of intellectual property becomes crucial for companies like Sony to maintain their competitive edge," Dr. Thompson stated in a recent interview.

Tencent has yet to publicly respond to the allegations. The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for both companies, particularly in terms of how intellectual property is managed and enforced in the rapidly evolving landscape of the gaming industry. As this case unfolds, industry analysts will be closely watching its impact on future collaborations and the licensing of popular franchises.