Sony Accuses tencent of “Sham” to Evade Liability in ‘Horizon‘ Clone Lawsuit
SAN MATEO, CA – Sony Interactive Entertainment is aggressively defending its lawsuit against Tencent, alleging the Chinese tech giant is attempting to shield its subsidiaries from obligation for what Sony claims is a blatant copy of its triumphant Horizon franchise. The dispute centers around Tencent’s upcoming game, Light of Motiram, which Sony argues infringes on the copyright of Horizon: Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West.
According to court filings, Sony contends that Tencent’s postponement of Light of Motiram’s launch to 2027 following the lawsuit is irrelevant, stating, “the damage has already been done and is still having an impact.” Sony further asserts that public reaction to Light of Motiram - including “outrage and confusion” from fans noting the similarities – was ignored by Tencent, which “continued to promote its Horizon clone despite Sony’s objections.”
The lawsuit escalated after Tencent argued Sony was pursuing the wrong entities, naming Tencent America, Proxima Beta US, and Tencent Holdings in the complaint while growth is reportedly handled by Polaris Quest/Aurora Studios, operating under Tencent Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd and Proxima Beta PTE Ltd. Sony alleges this is a deliberate attempt to create a “sham” structure to avoid liability.
“All turnover is booked through Tencent holdings and all marketing is also done through that name,” Sony’s defense states, highlighting what they see as a contradiction in Tencent’s legal strategy.
Sony also points to alterations made to Light of Motiram’s Steam page after the lawsuit was filed, including the removal of screenshots and a cover image featuring a character closely resembling Horizon’s protagonist, Aloy, as evidence of the game’s derivative nature.
Beyond direct copyright concerns, Sony argues the similarities between the games will negatively impact the Horizon franchise and damage the image of Aloy as a recognizable character.
Sony is requesting the court deny Tencent’s motion to dismiss the case and allow the lawsuit to proceed. The outcome could set a precedent for intellectual property protection within the rapidly expanding global gaming market.
