A Gaming Partnership Gone Wrong
In the high-stakes world of video games, collaborations between giants can lead to legendary titles. So, when word gets out that Sony and Tencent were in talks, ears perk up. But recent court filings paint a picture not of a friendly partnership, but of a deal gone sour, culminating in a major lawsuit. It’s a fascinating story involving rejected proposals, a potential ‘The Last of Us’ project, and a game that Sony calls a blatant “clone” of its hit franchise, ‘Horizon’.
The core of the drama stems from a lawsuit Sony filed against Tencent over an upcoming mobile game called ‘Light of Motiram’. Sony alleges it’s a copy of ‘Horizon’, but documents from the case reveal the story started long before the lawyers got involved.
The First Move: Tencent’s ‘Horizon’ Pitch
It all began with Tencent approaching Sony with an idea. According to declarations from PlayStation’s Head of Mobile, Olivier Courtemanche, Tencent was keen to get its hands on the ‘Horizon’ IP. In early 2024, at major industry events like DICE in Las Vegas and the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco, Tencent’s team pitched a ‘Horizon’-themed project, codenamed “Project Z.”
Despite the pitch, Sony wasn’t interested. In an email dated April 8, 2024, Sony formally rejected the idea, stating it wasn’t looking to license ‘Horizon’. For most, that would be the end of it. But the story was just getting started.
A Meeting That Was Supposed to Be About ‘The Last of Us’
A few months later, in July 2024, the narrative took an interesting turn. Courtemanche and his team from PlayStation flew to Shenzhen, China, to meet with Tencent and its Aurora Studios. This time, the agenda was different. Sony went into the meeting believing they were there to discuss a potential collaboration on one of its other crown jewels: ‘The Last of Us’.
A ‘The Last of Us’ title developed by a mobile gaming powerhouse like Tencent is the kind of project that could dominate the market. The prospect was exciting, and Sony was there to explore the opportunity. However, the meeting didn’t go as planned.
The Surprise Twist
Instead of a presentation about Clickers and post-apocalyptic survivors, Sony’s team was shown something eerily familiar. During the presentation, a slide appeared with images that looked suspiciously like the “Project Z” ‘Horizon’ concept Sony had already rejected. Courtemanche recalled seeing a female character in tribal clothing mixed with metal armor and a robotic animal hybrid-just like in ‘Horizon’.
Courtemanche stated he was confused, as they had already turned down a ‘Horizon’ deal and were there for ‘The Last of Us’. He now believes those images were assets from ‘Light of Motiram’, the very game at the center of the current lawsuit. What was meant to be a bridge-building meeting seems to have solidified Sony’s frustration and set the stage for the legal battle to come.
The Lawsuit: ‘Clone’ Wars
Following these events, Sony filed a lawsuit, calling ‘Light of Motiram’ a “slavish clone” of the ‘Horizon’ franchise. Tencent fired back with a motion to dismiss, arguing that the game, now delayed to 2027, hasn’t even been released. They also claim its themes are just “time-honored tropes” found in many other games like ‘The Legend of Zelda’ and ‘Far Cry’.
Sony dismissed Tencent’s defense as “nonsense,” stating that the promotional materials for ‘Light of Motiram’ have already done damage. Sony also accused the massive corporation of playing a “shell game” with its many subsidiaries to avoid accountability. It’s a messy, complex legal fight over intellectual property, and the details that have emerged offer a rare glimpse into the backroom dealings of the gaming industry.
FAQs
1. What is ‘Light of Motiram’?
‘Light of Motiram’ is an upcoming open-world mobile game developed by Tencent’s Aurora Studios. It is the subject of a lawsuit from Sony, which claims the game is a copy of its ‘Horizon’ series.
2. Why is Sony suing Tencent?
Sony is suing Tencent for copyright infringement, alleging that ‘Light of Motiram’ copies the world, characters, creatures, and overall aesthetic of its ‘Horizon’ franchise without permission.
3. Did Sony want to make a ‘The Last of Us’ game with Tencent?
Court documents show that Sony’s mobile team met with Tencent under the impression they would be discussing a potential collaboration for ‘The Last of Us’. However, the meeting shifted to a ‘Horizon’-like concept instead.
4. What was “Project Z”?
“Project Z” was the codename for a ‘Horizon’-themed game that Tencent pitched to Sony in early 2024. Sony officially rejected the proposal.
5. What is Tencent’s defense in the lawsuit?
Tencent argues that the lawsuit is premature since the game has been delayed. It also claims that ‘Light of Motiram’ uses common genre conventions and tropes that are not exclusive to ‘Horizon’.
6. What could have been?
The situation reveals a missed opportunity for a major collaboration. A Tencent-developed ‘The Last of Us’ mobile game could have been a massive success, but the soured relationship has led to a legal battle instead of a partnership.
Conclusion
This ongoing saga between Sony and Tencent is more than just a typical legal dispute. It’s a cautionary tale about protecting creative ideas in a competitive industry. What started as a potential partnership on one of gaming’s biggest IPs has unraveled into accusations and courtroom filings. The dream of a Sony-Tencent blockbuster collaboration seems to be off the table for now, replaced by a conflict that highlights the fine line between inspiration and imitation.