Light of Motiram: Tencent Accepts 3 Strict Conditions from Sony
The legal war between Sony and Tencent over the alleged Horizon “clone,” Light of Motiram, has taken a strategic turn. Both gaming giants have agreed to a temporary ceasefire involving strict concessions and a locked release window, pausing the hostilities until a crucial court date in 2026.
A Temporary Truce: Terms of the Deal
It seems the courtroom drama is on hold, at least for a moment. Sony and Tencent have officially engaged in discussions to resolve their bitter dispute regarding Light of Motiram.
According to court filings spotted by The Game Post, this “ceasefire” comes with specific conditions. Tencent requested more time to respond to Sony’s motion for an injunction, and Sony agreed—but not without a cost.
In exchange for the time extension, Tencent accepted strict terms:
- Pause on Promo: Tencent must immediately pause all public promotion and testing for Light of Motiram.
- Legal Waiver: They cannot argue in court that this delay was Sony’s fault when the case resumes.
Locked Until 2027: The Release Window Concession
Perhaps the most significant part of this agreement concerns the game’s launch timeline. The document reveals that Tencent has agreed to hold Light of Motiram to its Q4 2027 release window.
This ensures the game cannot be moved up to an earlier date while the legal battle unfolds. It is a massive win for Sony, ensuring the competing title stays off the market for years.
Additionally, both parties have found common ground on the schedule. They jointly requested that the hearing for Tencent’s motion to dismiss and Sony’s injunction request happen on the same day: January 29, 2026.
Sony’s Claim: Light of Motiram as a “Slavish Clone”
At the heart of this lawsuit is Sony’s claim that Light of Motiram is a “slavish clone” of the Horizon franchise. The similarities were apparently no accident.
Sony alleges that Tencent intentionally designed the game to confuse players into thinking it was a Horizon spin-off. Interestingly, this followed a rejected pitch where Tencent reportedly approached Sony with an idea for a Horizon game set in Asia.
When Sony turned it down, Tencent allegedly moved forward with their own version anyway. Since the lawsuit dropped, Tencent has quietly scrubbed much of the Horizon-like imagery from the game’s Steam page.
Learn more on the Horizon Series evolution from Zero Dawn to Forbidden West!
Tencent’s “Shell Game” Defense
Tencent’s defense strategy has been equally aggressive. They argue that Sony’s lawsuit is merely an attempt to monopolize the “post-apocalyptic mechanical beast” sub-genre.
Furthermore, Tencent claims they aren’t liable for damages. Their argument is that the development was handled by subsidiaries, effectively trying to distance the parent company from the project.
Sony has fired back, accusing the tech giant of playing a “legal shell game” to dodge accountability for intellectual property infringement.
The Official Alternative: Horizon Steel Frontiers
While its lawyers fight in court, Sony is expanding the IP officially. Alongside NCSoft, they recently announced Horizon Steel Frontiers, a new MMORPG coming to mobile and PC.
This creates an interesting dynamic where an official MMO and the alleged “clone” were seemingly racing for similar market space. Rumors also persist that Sony is developing a separate, dedicated Horizon MMORPG for the PlayStation 5.
In Conclusion: What’s Next for Sony and Tencent?
This legal battle is far from over, but the new agreement ensures Light of Motiram won’t be surfacing anytime soon. With a court date set for 2026 and a release locked to late 2027, Sony has successfully bought itself time to expand the official Horizon universe.
What do you think about Tencent’s defense? Is Light of Motiram a rip-off, or is Sony trying to crush competition? Let us know in the comments!
A video game enthusiast ever since I first got my hands on a Game Boy. Over the years, I've played many different games across various genres, discovering hidden gems and niche titles along the way. I'm also passionate about technology, always up-to-date with the latest news and insight in the PC and Console market. Ready to share and bring you the latest news !
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