In the world of gaming, drama often unfolds in unexpected ways. And in 2025, one of the hottest topics has been the ongoing legal battle between Sony and Tencent over a game that many believe is too similar to Sony’s beloved Horizon series. Buckle up, because this story is about to take a wild turn!
It all began back in November 2024 when Polaris Quest unveiled their new title, Light of Motiram. Almost immediately, players and critics alike started drawing comparisons to Horizon Zero Dawn and its sequel, Horizon Forbidden West. The most striking similarities? A fiery red-haired protagonist, mechanical beasts roaming the land, and a stunning tribal, post-apocalyptic world. Fans didn’t hold back; they called it a blatant knock-off. Fast forward a few months, and Sony decided to take a stand.
In a bold move, Sony filed a lawsuit in California federal court, accusing Tencent of creating what they termed a “slavish clone” of their iconic franchise. According to the complaint, the similarities were so glaring that some players were genuinely confused, thinking Light of Motiram was the next installment in the Horizon series. Talk about a gaming scandal!
Things heated up last month when the legal documents were made public. Sony claimed that the game’s art style, narrative beats, gameplay mechanics, and even its marketing strategies were too similar to what gamers have come to expect from Horizon. This revelation sent shockwaves through the gaming community, leaving many wondering what Tencent would do next.
Well, it seems Tencent has been busy. Just recently, the developers quietly updated the Steam store page for Light of Motiram, making some significant changes to how the game is presented. These updates include a complete overhaul of the game’s description, a fresh set of screenshots, and a new key art that steers clear of any Horizon references.
Gone is the original description that echoed the themes of Horizon: “In a world overrun by colossal machines, explore the vast open world, build your base of operations, advance technology, train Mechanimals, and take on formidable bosses.” Instead, players are now greeted with a more generic survival-focused tagline: “Make smart use of everything around you to stay alive and face off against formidable bosses, every step is fraught with danger and requires courage.”
This shift in tone is telling. The previous images showcased breathtaking landscapes and robotic creatures that screamed Horizon, but the new visuals emphasize a broader open-world survival experience. No more sci-fi tribal-tech vibes—just survival and adventure!
Perhaps the most telling change is in the promotional artwork. The once prominent red-haired character has been replaced with images of two adorable in-game creatures—one resembling a penguin and the other a dog-like companion. This shift from a human-centric narrative to a focus on creatures aims to distance the game from its Horizon-like origins.
In addition to these visual changes, the game’s release window has been updated. Previously marked as “To Be Announced,” it now states that players can expect Light of Motiram to launch in Q4 2027. This marks the first specific timeframe given for the project, raising anticipation among fans—albeit with a hint of skepticism.
As if that wasn’t enough, records from SteamDB reveal that several videos associated with the store page have mysteriously vanished in recent days. All these updates paint a clear picture: Tencent is making a concerted effort to rebrand Light of Motiram and distance it from the Horizon controversy.
But what does this mean for the lawsuit? As of now, there haven’t been any major developments. Sony’s complaint remains active, and Tencent has yet to make a public statement regarding the legal proceedings or the changes made to the game. This leaves fans and industry insiders on the edge of their seats, wondering if these alterations are merely a savvy marketing strategy or genuine damage control.
So, what do you think? Are these changes enough to quell the fears of copyright infringement, or do they simply highlight the fine line between inspiration and imitation? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
