Sony Files Lawsuit Against Tencent Over Alleged Horizon Game Clone

Sony has initiated legal proceedings against Tencent, accusing the Chinese tech giant of developing a "slavish clone" of its Horizon franchise. The lawsuit claims Tencent's Light of Motiram replicates Core elements of Horizon: Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West, including gameplay mechanics, narrative structure, character designs, and artistic direction.

The complaint highlights striking similarities: red-haired female protagonists, post-apocalyptic open worlds, mechanical fauna combat systems, and tribal societal structures. Sony alleges these parallels go beyond inspiration, constituting deliberate intellectual property infringement that could mislead consumers about the game's origins.

This dispute follows Tencent's failed 2023 proposal to collaborate on an official Horizon universe title. Sony rejected the partnership offer, after which Tencent announced its competing project. The Japanese conglomerate maintains its brand integrity and seven-year investment in the franchise are being undermined by what it describes as a "near carbon copy" product.