“The damage has already been done.” Sony intends to wipe out every trace of Tencent’s alleged Horizon clone, believing the future of PlayStation’s most valuable IP may hang in the balance. The legal showdown between Sony and Tencent is escalating.

The dispute between Sony and Tencent over the alleged imitation of Horizon Zero Dawn is far from over. After Sony filed a lawsuit earlier this year against the Chinese tech giant over its Light of Motiram project—considered by many to be a blatant copy of Horizon—the company has now filed a new motion accusing Tencent of “damaging the Horizon brand and endangering its future success.”

The controversy began when PlayStation accused Tencent of creating a “slavish clone” of Horizon Zero Dawn. According to Sony’s lawyers, the project originated as a failed mobile adaptation of Horizon that later evolved into Light of Motiram, a survival game with a protagonist and art direction strikingly similar to Aloy’s.

Tencent responded by claiming that Sony was suing the wrong entity and that Horizon itself was not an original concept, as it borrowed ideas from other franchises like Far Cry and The Legend of Zelda. The company also argued that the game was still in early development, so accusing it of plagiarism was premature and exaggerated.

Sony Doubles Down

The legal standoff appeared to stall until now. In a new 35-page filing obtained by The Game Post, Sony described Tencent’s defense as “absurd,” reiterating its goal of getting Light of Motiram permanently canceled. Although the release date was pushed back to 2027 following the lawsuit, Sony insists that “the damage has already been done.” The company also accuses Tencent of continuing to use promotional materials that could mislead consumers and blur the lines between the two franchises.

In the document, Sony claims that Horizon’s protagonist has become a “brand identifier” and that Tencent’s use of a similarly designed female character—with comparable clothing, stance, and tone—creates a false association between the two games. Furthermore, Sony accuses Tencent of playing “corporate hide-and-seek” through its complex subsidiary network to avoid accountability, despite Tencent Holdings reporting all gaming revenue collectively.

Neither side shows any sign of backing down. The ongoing legal battle between these two industry titans is shaping up to be a lengthy and costly fight—one that could redefine how intellectual property and creative inspiration are interpreted in the gaming world.

Source: 3djuegos