Tencent has responded to Sony's lawsuit regarding claims that its upcoming game, Light of Motiram, is a "slavish clone" of Horizon: Zero Dawn. Sony's allegations cite similarities like the game's red-haired heroine and post-apocalyptic setting. Tencent argues that Sony's claims reflect an "impermissible monopoly on genre conventions." They emphasize that many games share similar elements and criticize Sony for trying to monopolize common tropes within the gaming industry. Tencent insists that its legal case should be dismissed, noting that the lawsuit targets the wrong companies involved in Light of Motiram's development.
What are the main claims made by Tencent against Sony's lawsuit?Tencent contends that Sony's lawsuit improperly seeks control over widely used gaming conventions and that many titles from the gaming landscape, including Enslaved: Odyssey to the West and Breath of the Wild, share similar genre elements. Tencent further claims the allegations are against incorrect defendants and calls out Sony's assertions as contradictory to statements made by Sony's own developers.
Horizon: Zero Dawn is a critically acclaimed action role-playing game developed by Guerrilla Games. Since its launch in 2017, it has received numerous accolades for its innovative open-world design, storytelling, and the distinct robotic enemies known as "Machines" that populate its post-apocalyptic landscape. The game’s success led to a sequel, Horizon Forbidden West, and has significantly influenced narrative-driven action-adventure titles, elevating discussions around originality and genre ownership in the video game industry.
Comments
Honestly, this feels like Sony is trying to copyright a whole vibe, and Tencent isn’t having it. It’s a classic case of big players clashing over who gets to own the building blocks of fun.
It's wild how often we see these clone accusations pop up in gaming, especially when you consider how many beloved titles borrow from each other's DNA. Tencent's pushback really highlights how tricky it is to draw the line between inspiration and infringement in such a creatively iterative medium.