New Tencent Game Accused of Copying Guerrilla’s Horizon Series

New Tencent Game Accused of Copying Guerrilla's Horizon Series

Key Takeaways

  • Light of Motiram, a new Tencent game, is being accused of blatantly lifting ideas from Guerrilla Games’ Horizon series.
  • Gamers believe Light of Motiram copies various Horizon aspects, such as a post-apocalyptic setting, mechanized animals, and even a redhead character who uses a bow and arrow.
  • Light of Motiram differentiates itself from Horizon by offering co-op and base building mechanics, but many gamers wonder if legal action from Sony against Tencent is possible.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of gaming under my belt and countless hours spent exploring the mesmerizing landscapes of Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West, it’s hard not to feel a pang of deja vu when I lay eyes on Light of Motiram. It seems that Tencent’s latest offering has taken more than just a few cues from Guerrilla Games’ masterpiece.


The recently unveiled game by Tencent called “Light of Motiram” is facing criticism from gamers due to striking resemblances to Guerrilla Games’ popular “Horizon” series. Although it’s common for games to borrow elements from successful titles, the similarities between “Light of Motiram” and the “Horizon” series are quite pronounced, to put it mildly.

Despite being less than a decade old, the Horizon series has gained significant prominence among PlayStation’s roster of award-winning IPs. The franchise’s debut game, Horizon Zero Dawn, was lauded by players for its beautiful post-apocalyptic setting, which could turn lethal in moments thanks to the mechanized animals prowling the landscape. Horizon Zero Dawn ultimately sold over 24 million copies and spawned a highly successful franchise in the process. Guerrilla confirmed last year that it’s working on 16 Horizon projects.

The atmosphere of “Horizon” is distinct, making it readily apparent if any game were to borrow elements from it. This seems to be the case with “Light of Motiram,” a newly unveiled title developed by Tencent subsidiary Polaris Quest. According to its Steam page, “Light of Motiram” is an open-world adventure game set in a world where human civilization no longer exists and nature intertwines with machinery. While this initial description suggests some similarities with the “Horizon” series, “Light of Motiram” takes these comparisons several steps further.

Light of Motiram Looks Extremely Similar to Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West

In the sneak peeks of ‘Light of Motiram’s world, you’ll notice a strong resemblance to the Horizon games. From the lush greenery, mechanized animals, and primitive villages, to the red-haired female protagonist who uses a bow and arrow (like Aloy from the Horizon series), the similarities are evident. The robotic creatures in ‘Light of Motiram’ (known as “Mechanimals”) can even be friendly and domesticated, reminiscent of the override system for machines in the Horizon games. However, ‘Light of Motiram’ sets itself apart with unique features like co-op multiplayer for up to nine players and the option to construct shelters.

Still, Light of Motiram has been subject to extensive flak for its liberal inspiration from the Horizon games. Many have even been pondering whether Guerrilla Games and Sony have grounds to pursue legal action against Polaris Quest and Tencent. It wouldn’t be all that unfathomable, since Nintendo sued Palworld developer Pocket Pair a few months ago for alleged patent infringement of certain gameplay mechanics. Light of Motiram is currently scheduled for a 2025 release on PC and mobile, but that could change if Sony decides it flew too close to the sun.

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2024-11-28 20:13