Tencent is pushing back against Sony's lawsuit claiming that its upcoming game Light of Motiram is a clone of Horizon Zero Dawn. Tencent argues that Sony is trying to monopolize common genre tropes such as a red-haired heroine fighting robotic dinosaurs. The legal dispute highlights an ironic twist, as Sony's Horizon Zero Dawn faced scrutiny during its development for allegedly resembling Ninja Theory's Enslaved: Odyssey to the West. Tencent's statement emphasizes that similar game elements are prevalent across various franchises, indicating that they cannot be solely owned by one company. Interestingly, Tencent seems to be adjusting Light of Motiram by removing elements that Sony might argue are too similar to Horizon Zero Dawn.

What similarities are there between Horizon Zero Dawn and Light of Motiram?

Both games feature a red-haired heroine battling robot creatures, and critics have noted aesthetic and thematic parallels. However, Tencent argues that such elements are common within their genre, invoking various other IPs that share these traits.

Horizon Zero Dawn, released in 2017, is critically acclaimed and known for its expansive open world and intricate story involving a post-apocalyptic Earth inhabited by robotic creatures. Created by Guerrilla Games, the game was innovative for its time and has seen significant fan attendance and discussions regarding its genre conventions. This ongoing legal battle underscores the broader issues of originality and creative ownership in the gaming industry.