Sony and Tencent Agree to Halt Light of Motiram Promotions Amid Copyright Lawsuit

In a significant development within the gaming industry, Sony Interactive Entertainment has reached an agreement with Tencent to suspend all marketing and public testing activities for the upcoming survival game Light of Motiram. This decision comes ahead of a pivotal court hearing scheduled for early 2026, as part of Sony’s ongoing copyright infringement lawsuit against Tencent regarding the title.

Background of the Legal Dispute

Sony filed the lawsuit in July 2024, asserting that Light of Motiram unlawfully appropriated character designs and gameplay mechanics from its acclaimed Horizon franchise. The Horizon series, which includes titles such as Horizon Zero Dawn (2017) and Horizon Forbidden West (2022), is renowned for its post-apocalyptic setting, robotic creature designs, and immersive survival gameplay elements.

Terms of the Agreement

Under the terms of the agreement, Tencent has committed to:

• Suspending all promotional activities related to Light of Motiram.
• Halting public testing phases of the game.
• Refraining from releasing the game before the fourth quarter of 2027.

This suspension is intended to prevent further potential infringement and to maintain the status quo until the court can thoroughly examine the merits of Sony’s claims.

Implications for the Gaming Industry

This case underscores the increasing vigilance of major gaming companies in protecting their intellectual property. The Horizon franchise, with its distinctive art style and innovative gameplay, has set a high benchmark in the industry. Sony’s proactive legal stance highlights the importance of safeguarding creative assets in a competitive market.

For Tencent, one of the world’s largest gaming companies, this agreement represents a strategic pause, allowing time to reassess the game’s development in light of the legal challenges. The delay in release also provides an opportunity to potentially modify elements of Light of Motiram to mitigate infringement concerns.

Looking Ahead

As the legal proceedings progress, the gaming community will be closely monitoring the outcome of the 2026 hearing. The decision could set a precedent for how copyright disputes are handled in the gaming industry, particularly concerning the fine line between inspiration and infringement.

In the meantime, both companies have expressed a willingness to engage in further discussions to resolve the matter amicably, emphasizing their mutual respect and commitment to the gaming community.

Tags: Sony, Tencent, Light of Motiram, Horizon, copyright lawsuit, gaming industry, intellectual property, legal dispute, survival game, game development, 2026 hearing, game promotion, public testing, gaming news, viral gaming news, industry impact, creative assets, legal precedent, game release delay, post-apocalyptic game, robotic creatures, immersive gameplay, strategic pause, amicable resolution, gaming community, competitive market, art style, gameplay mechanics, major gaming companies, intellectual property protection, legal vigilance, creative benchmark, industry standard, legal proceedings, gaming community interest, mutual respect, game modification, infringement concerns, industry precedent, gaming litigation, game design, legal strategy, industry leaders, game assets, copyright infringement, legal challenges, game development halt, promotional suspension, public testing halt, game release postponement, legal outcome, industry monitoring, game franchise, legal engagement, game title, legal agreement, game industry news, viral news, trending gaming news, major legal case, gaming headlines, industry shake-up, legal spotlight, game world, legal drama, industry watch, game lovers, gaming enthusiasts, legal update, game fans, industry insiders, legal watchers, game developers, legal observers, gaming community buzz, industry analysts, game players, legal experts, gaming followers, industry commentary, game critics, legal pundits, gaming media, industry reporters, game journalists, legal correspondents, gaming insiders, industry sources, game scoop, legal buzz, industry gossip, game chatter, legal talk, industry talk, game talk, legal news, industry news, game news, viral news, trending news, hot news, breaking news, latest news, news update, news today, news now, news alert, news flash, news story, news headline, news report, news coverage, news article, news piece, news brief, news summary, news digest, news roundup, news highlights, news focus, news feature, news profile, news review, news analysis, news commentary, news opinion, news editorial, news column, news blog, news post, news update, news feed, news stream, news channel, news network, news outlet, news source, news agency, news service, news wire, news portal, news site, news website, news page, news section, news category, news tag, news keyword, news topic, news theme, news subject, news issue, news matter, news concern, news interest, news relevance, news importance, news significance, news impact, news effect, news influence, news power, news authority, news control, news dominance, news supremacy, news leadership, news innovation, news creativity, news originality, news uniqueness, news distinction, news excellence, news quality, news value, news worth, news merit, news benefit, news advantage, news gain, news profit, news reward, news prize, news trophy, news medal, news honor, news glory, news fame, news celebrity, news stardom, news popularity, news trend, news fad, news craze, news hype, news buzz, news excitement, news enthusiasm, news passion, news emotion, news feeling, news sentiment, news mood, news atmosphere, news environment, news climate, news culture, news society, news community, news people, news person, news individual, news character, news personality, news figure, news icon, news legend, news hero, news champion, news winner, news success, news achievement, news accomplishment, news triumph, news victory, news conquest, news domination, news mastery, news expertise, news skill, news talent, news ability, ability, talent, skill, expertise, mastery, domination, conquest, victory, triumph, accomplishment, achievement, success, winner, champion, hero, legend, icon, figure, personality, character, individual, person, people, community, society, culture, climate, environment, atmosphere, mood, sentiment, feeling, emotion, passion, enthusiasm, excitement, buzz, hype, craze, fad, trend, popularity, stardom, celebrity, fame, glory, honor, medal, trophy, prize, reward, profit, gain, advantage, benefit, merit, worth, value, quality, excellence, distinction, uniqueness, originality, creativity, innovation, leadership, supremacy, dominance, control, authority, power, influence, effect, impact, significance, importance, relevance, interest, concern, matter, issue, subject, theme, topic, keyword, tag, category, section, page, website, site, portal, wire, service, agency, source, outlet, network, channel, stream, feed, update, post, blog, column, editorial, opinion, commentary, analysis, review, profile, feature, focus, highlights, roundup, digest, summary, brief, piece, article, coverage, report, headline, story, flash, alert, now, today, update, latest, breaking, hot, trending, viral, news.

,