By Sagar V. Mankar 
Gaming giant Tencent has found itself in hot water after revealing its newest game, Light of Motiram, which many players say looks remarkably similar to Sony’s successful Horizon video game series. The announcement has sparked an interesting debate about inspiration versus imitation in the gaming industry.
Developed by Tencent’s Shanghai team Polaris Quest, Light of Motiram features a post-apocalyptic world where the “nature meets machine” setting immediately caught the attention of PlayStation fans. The game’s main character, a red-haired archer, and the robot-like animals (called “Mechanimals“) bear striking similarities to Horizon’s beloved hero Aloy, and her mechanical adversaries.
To understand why this matters, let’s look at Horizon’s success story. The first game in the series, Horizon Zero Dawn, has sold an impressive 24 million copies since its release. Its unique blend of prehistoric human settlements and advanced robotic creatures created a distinctive gaming experience that players worldwide have come to love. Guerrilla Games, the creators of Horizon, are currently working on expanding this universe with multiple new projects.
While Light of Motiram shares many visual and thematic elements with Horizon, it does bring some new features to the table. Players can team up with up to nine friends in multiplayer mode, build their own shelters, and enjoy the game for free on PC and mobile devices. A PlayStation 5 version has also been confirmed, which adds an interesting twist to the situation.
The gaming community’s reaction has been mixed but largely critical. Many players have drawn parallels to the recent controversy surrounding Palworld, another game that faced criticism for its similarities to Pokemon, ultimately leading to legal action from Nintendo. This has led to speculation about whether Sony might take similar steps regarding Light of Motiram.
Tencent, known for creating games inspired by popular titles, seems to be following a familiar pattern. The company previously developed the MMORPG Tarisland, which is heavily inspired by World of Warcraft. Their upcoming sandbox game, Auroria, is said to borrow elements from Palworld. This approach, while potentially profitable, raises questions about the line between inspiration and imitation in game development.
Light of Motiram is scheduled for release in 2025, though this timeline could change depending on how the situation develops. The game will be free-to-play and include crossplay features between different platforms, suggesting Tencent is aiming for a broad, accessible gaming experience despite the controversy surrounding its design.