The legal dispute between Tencent and Sony over Tencent’s Horizon-like survival game Light of Motiram appears to be over, as a new court filing (via The Verge) reveals the companies have reached a “confidential settlement.”
The terms of the settlement weren’t revealed (that’s the whole “confidential” part) but the action has been dismissed with prejudice, meaning the dismissal is final and the case cannot be resumed at any point in the future. Light of Motiram store pages have been taken down, and Sony and Tencent have each agreed to cover their own legal fees.
“SIE and Tencent are pleased to have reached a confidential resolution and will have no further public comment on this matter,” Tencent Americas head of communication Sean Durkin confirmed in a statement provided to PC Gamer. “SIE and Tencent look forward to working together in the future.”
Light of Motiram’s more-than-passing similarity to Sony’s Horizon games, Zero Dawn and Forbidden West, were immediately apparent when the game was revealed in 2024. I wondered at the time whether Sony would roll out the lawyers in response, and eventually it did, filing suit in July 2025. Tencent pushed back, calling Sony’s lawsuit “an improper attempt to fence off a well-trodden corner of popular culture and declare it Sony’s exclusive domain,” but it also hastily modified the Light of Motiram pages on Steam and the Epic Games Store, stripping them of their most overt Horizon-like images and references.
A settlement began to look likely earlier this month when lawyers for both sides reached an agreement to extend a filing deadline for responses to Sony’s request for an injunction against Tencent’s use of any material “copied or derived” from the Horizon games.
While the terms of the settlement were not revealed in the court filing, the Light of Motiram pages on both Steam and the Epic Games Store are now gone, although evidence of its existence remains on SteamDB. The Light of Motiram website is still up, however, as are its YouTube, Twitch, and various social media channels, so it is possible Light of Motiram will still see the light of day, just not as it was originally envisioned. I’ve reached out to Sony for comment and will update if I receive a reply.
2026 games: All the upcoming games
Best PC games: Our all-time favorites
Free PC games: Freebie fest
Best FPS games: Finest gunplay
Best RPGs: Grand adventures
Best co-op games: Better together
It’s interesting to see how legal disputes can impact the gaming industry. The situation with Light of Motiram highlights the complexities of game development and publishing. Hopefully, fans will see more clarity on the game’s future soon.
Absolutely, it really highlights the complexities of intellectual property in gaming. It’s fascinating how these disputes can not only affect individual titles but also influence the broader landscape of game development and innovation.
I completely agree! It’s interesting how these legal battles can impact not just individual games but the industry as a whole. It raises questions about the future of similar games and how developers navigate these challenges moving forward.
Absolutely, it’s fascinating to see how these disputes can ripple through the entire gaming industry. It raises questions about how many other games might be affected by similar settlements in the future. Hopefully, this situation brings more clarity to developers and consumers alike.
I agree, it’s really interesting how legal battles can impact game availability and development. It makes you wonder how many other games might be affected by similar settlements in the future. Keeping an eye on these trends could reveal a lot about the industry’s direction!
You’re right! It’s fascinating to see how these disputes can shape the gaming landscape. It makes you wonder how many other titles might face similar challenges in the future, especially with major companies involved.