A new game from Tencent has been accused of “ripping off” Sony’s Horizon video game series.
Light of Motiram, from Shanghai-based Tencent subsidiary Polaris Quest, is described as an open-world multiplayer survival game “where nature meets machine.”
Those are the sort of generic gameplay descriptions you’d find on any Steam page, but it’s how Light of Motiram looks that’s set tongues wagging online. From teaser videos and screenshots, below, we can see a remarkable likeness to Guerrilla Games’ Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West, complete with robot beasts and a female character who weilds a bow and arrow, all in what looks like a familiar post-apocalyptic setting and art style.
“Rebuild a new civilization and battle, befriend and raise various mechanimals alone or with friends in a sprawling hostile world,” Light of Motiram’s description continues.
IGN has asked both Tencent and Sony for comment.
Horizon isn’t the only game Light of Motiram is being compared to. Given its base building, survival mechanics, and resource gathering gameplay, as well as the ability to tame "mechanimals," many are pointing out similarities with Pocketpair’s smash hit Palworld, which itself was accused of "ripping off" Pokémon. Nintendo and The Pokémon Company eventually launched a lawsuit against Pocketpair accusing the company of patent infringement, legal action Pocketpair has vowed to fight.
"Can I be the first to say it???" one Steam user said. "hahahh I mean it's obvious right? I don't need to say it. This is Palworld all over again."
"I honestly think this is far more blatant than even Palworld," said another. "Horizon 3 – let’s go!" said an X / Twitter user. "Disgusting rip-off," added another.
Light of Motiram is also being compared to Capcom's Monster Hunter and a number of other games that feature a similar aesthetic and gameplay mechanics. The inevitable question Sony and Tencent face now is whether the PlayStation maker will take any action against Light of Motiram. Guerrilla is of course working on a multiplayer, live service Horizon game, which you wouldn't be surprised to see look like Light of Motiram when Sony eventually makes its announcement. In that context, it probably won't look too kindly upon Light of Motiram.
For now, Light of Motiram is due out on PC and mobile at some point in 2025. It will be free-to-play and playable solo or with up to nine other friends per server, with full crossplay enabled.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].
