Tencent Alters Light of Motiram Steam Page After Sony’s Horizon Lawsuit
Following Sony’s recently filed lawsuit, Tencent has made notable changes to the Steam page for Light of Motiram, a game heavily criticized for its similarities to Horizon Zero Dawn. As reported by The Game Post, the alterations include changes to the game’s key art, a rewritten description, and the removal of multiple screenshots, including those featuring the title’s red-haired protagonist which drew strong comparisons to Horizon’s lead character, Aloy.
The original description for Light of Motiram read:
“In a world overrun by colossal machines, explore the vast open world, build your base of operations, advance technology, train Mechanimals, and take on formidable bosses. Starting from the primitive age, forge a new path of development. Defy machination, survive with mechanimals.”
This text directly referenced “Mechanimals” which critics have noted bear a striking resemblance to Horizon’s mechanical dinosaurs. The updated description has removed these references entirely, replacing them with a more generic summary:
“Make smart use of everything around you to stay alive and face off against formidable bosses, every step is fraught with danger and requires courage. Only by overcoming the challenges of survival can you carve out a place for yourself in this unforgiving land.”
The removal of visual and textual elements that most closely mirrored Horizon Zero Dawn comes shortly after the lawsuit revealed an additional detail. According to Sony’s filing, Tencent allegedly approached Sony about collaborating on a Horizon game. After Sony declined, Tencent reportedly followed up by creating Light of Motiram.
While the similarities between the two titles may appear obvious, copyright infringement cases, particularly between large corporations, are rarely straightforward. Even with altered marketing materials, the lawsuit could hinge on deeper design, asset, and concept similarities. Whichever way the case unfolds, it is likely to set a precedent for future disputes over game design imitation in the global games industry.
Do you think Tencent’s quick changes to Light of Motiram’s Steam page will influence the outcome of Sony’s lawsuit, or is the damage already done?
