Tencent and Sony Reach Interim Agreement in “Light of Motiram” Infringement Lawsuit, All Game Promotion and Public Testing Suspended

As the copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) against Tencent’s game Light of Motiram, alleging violations of the Horizon series, enters a critical phase, the two parties recently submitted a joint filing to the court, agreeing to suspend all marketing activities and public testing for the game during the litigation period. A key hearing for the case has been scheduled for January 29, 2026.

According to court documents disclosed by the United States District Court for the Northern District of California on December 1, Sony and Tencent have reached several interim agreements regarding the legal proceedings. While Sony’s motion for a preliminary injunction remains pending, Tencent has agreed to:

• Refrain from conducting any new promotional activities or public testing for Light of Motiram;
• Not release the game earlier than the previously postponed window of the fourth quarter of 2027;
• Not claim that Sony delayed exercising its rights due to procedural extensions;
• Not request expedited discovery from the court regarding the preliminary injunction motion.

Sony initially filed the lawsuit in July 2024, accusing Light of Motiram of “blatant imitation” of the Horizon series in character design, artistic style, and world-building, particularly highlighting the resemblance between the game’s red-haired huntress character and Horizon protagonist Aloy. Following the lawsuit, the game was removed from Steam, some visual assets were revised, and its release plan was quietly postponed.

Regarding legal procedures, Tencent’s deadline to respond to Sony’s injunction motion has been extended to December 17, 2025, while Sony’s reply is postponed to January 2, 2026. The court intends to consolidate Tencent’s “motion to dismiss” with Sony’s “request for a preliminary injunction,” with a hearing tentatively set for January 29, 2026.

In its motion, Tencent argued that Sony is attempting to monopolize common gaming elements such as “red-haired heroes” and “mechanical creatures” through litigation and that targeting “potential actions of an unreleased game” lacks legal basis. Sony, meanwhile, insists that the court should prohibit the release of Light of Motiram and restrain the use of character designs similar to Aloy.

This agreement marks a new phase in the high-profile cross-border intellectual property dispute, which has drawn significant industry attention. Ahead of the hearing in early 2026, Light of Motiram will enter a period of public silence, and the outcome of the case may have important implications for the boundaries of creative expression and copyright protection practices in the gaming industry.