The legal issue between Sony and Tencent over the “Horizon clone” Light of Motiram has been resolved for now, as an agreement between the companies has removed the game from storefronts.
Sony and Tencent have reportedly reached an agreement regarding their legal battle over Light of Motiram.
In November 2024, Polaris Quest (a subsidiary of Tencent) announced Light of Motiram with a trailer showcasing what players can expect while traipsing the new world. But, fans were quick to draw a bridge between the gameplay present in the Polaris Quest production and the existing (and incredibly popular) Horizon franchise developed by Guerrilla Games. Fans called the similarities “shameless,” with very similar art styles, enemy designs, and other gameplay elements that just feel like they were lifted from Horizon.
Shortly after November 2024’s announcement, Sony filed a lawsuit against Tencent, citing what fans had already been suggesting on the internet: Light of Motiram infringes on the existing Horizon series. Sony alleged Motiram copied major elements of the Horizon series, and Tencent claimed Sony was attempting to stop other companies from using basic game mechanics. Today, that has all come to an end as it appears Tencent and Sony have reached an agreement behind closed doors that has effectively pulled Motiram from storefronts.
Reported by the Game Post, the lawsuit concluded today. Sony and Tencent apparently joined forces and pushed to dismiss the case under a rule that allows both sides to end the lawsuit by confidential agreement. So, while Sony and Tencent are no longer fighting over copied assets, what started as a very public announcement ends in a whimper. The lawsuit has been dismissed with prejudice (which means it can’t be brought to the court again), and both sides will be responsible for their own legal costs.
After this announcement, Light of Motiram has been removed from storefronts, but the trailer (and gameplay) are still available to watch on YouTube.
