Landmark Victory: Sony Secures Confidential Settlement with Tencent Over ‘Slavish’ Horizon Zero Dawn Clone – Light of Motiram Vanishes from Stores!
In a stunning turn amid Sony Tencent Horizon settlement 2025, Light of Motiram clone controversy, slavish Horizon copy lawsuit, gaming IP protection 2025, and PlayStation copyright battles, Sony Interactive Entertainment has quietly triumphed over Tencent, forcing the removal of the blatant Horizon rip-off from major platforms just months after filing suit.
The saga exploded in July 2025 when Sony sued multiple Tencent entities—including Tencent Holdings Ltd., Tencent Technology (Shanghai), and Proxima Beta—in California’s Northern District Court (Case No. 3:25-cv-06275-JSC). Labeling Light of Motiram a “slavish clone” of Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West, Sony accused the game of ripping off core elements: post-apocalyptic worlds overrun by massive robotic beasts mimicking animal forms, lush biomes like deserts and forests, and a red-haired female protagonist eerily resembling Aloy—complete with similar outfits, earpiece tech, and bow-wielding combat. Sony sought $150,000 in statutory damages per infringed title, an injunction halting promotion, and destruction of all materials.
Background reveals Tencent had pitched Sony a Horizon MMO set in Asia—rejected outright—before unveiling Light of Motiram in late 2024. The reveal trailer drew immediate backlash for its uncanny parallels, from machine designs to marketing centering an Aloy-lookalike. Tencent fired back, filing to dismiss and claiming Sony sought a “monopoly on genre conventions,” citing influences like Enslaved: Odyssey to the West and Far Cry. Sony dismissed this as “nonsense,” accusing Tencent of a “shell game” via subsidiaries.
On December 17, 2025, court documents confirmed a “confidential settlement,” with the case dismissed under Rule 41(a)(1)(A)(ii)—with prejudice, barring refiling. Each side covers its costs; no admission of wrongdoing. Light of Motiram promptly vanished from Steam (marked “retired”) and Epic Games Store, trailers scrubbed. Tencent’s Sean Durkin stated: “SIE and Tencent are pleased to have reached a confidential resolution… look forward to working together.” Sony stayed silent.
Gaming experts hail it as a win for IP guardians. Analysts note it sets a precedent against “knock-offs” from China, where cloning Western hits is rampant, bolstering Sony’s arsenal amid Horizon 3 hype. “Dismissal with prejudice locks in protection without public concessions,” one IP lawyer observed.
Public reactions lit up X: Fans cheered “Justice for Aloy!” with memes of robotic dinos fleeing; posts like Dexerto’s garnered 300+ likes. Critics worried over “trope policing,” but most backed Sony: “Clones kill creativity.”
For U.S. gamers, this safeguards PlayStation’s ecosystem—Horizon‘s 32M+ sales fuel exclusives like the upcoming PC port and Lego spin-off. Economically, it deters cheap imitations flooding Steam, preserving jobs at Guerrilla Games. Lifestyle boost: Pure, innovative experiences over diluted copies. Tech ties into AI-driven asset creation scrutiny, politically neutral but pro-innovation.
User intent? Gamers seek closure—expect no Motiram revival soon.
As the dust settles, Sony Tencent Horizon settlement 2025, Light of Motiram clone controversy, slavish Horizon copy lawsuit, gaming IP protection 2025, and PlayStation copyright battles affirm IP’s role in blockbuster futures.
By Sam Michael
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