Hey there, it looks like another contentious gaming clone has hit the market, and this one has ‘legal dispute’ written all over it. Tencent Games, along with its offshoot, Polaris Quest, just launched an MMO that feels eerily similar to PlayStation’s Horizon series. This game, dubbed Light of Motiram, is currently tailored for PC players only.
This announcement was quite the surprise, dropping with a full-blown press release via Gematsu, complete with trailers, screenshots, and even a Steam page chock-full of information. It will also be available through the Epic Games Store, though they’re keeping mum on pricing details or whether it’ll follow a free-to-play model.
Given that Palworld developers now have a bit of breathing room, Light of Motiram is sure to capture quite a bit of attention in the upcoming weeks. Its striking similarity to an existing franchise is hard to ignore, and it’s likely only a matter of time before Sony brings out the big legal guns. The art style and creature designs alone are enough to make one do a double-take.
Below is the main teaser trailer for the game, with additional videos that have emerged since the initial reveal:
In an amusing twist, this comes before PlayStation has officially rolled out their anticipated online-only Horizon game. It seems poised to be PlayStation’s flagship move into live-service games, an area that’s proven quite challenging. If we’ve learned anything from Palworld’s early success, it’s that players are often unfazed by familiar-looking games if they deliver an entertaining experience. If Polaris Quest delivers engaging gameplay, PlayStation and Guerrilla’s own Horizon live-service plans might find themselves in hot water.
Light of Motiram looks to tap into the lucrative survival and crafting niche, with combat mechanics reminiscent of Monster Hunter—arguably a smart move for implementing Horizon-style machine battles in a co-op setting. I’d even guess Guerrilla is considering something similar for its long-awaited Horizon project.
No, this isn’t Horizon. Image credit: POLARIS QUEST
This development represents another hiccup in Horizon’s rocky journey. Despite Sony treating it as a cornerstone series, the initial excitement fades quickly after each game’s release. Unfortunately, the franchise often finds itself overshadowed by more enticing launches. Even the Lego Horizon Adventures didn’t exactly set the world on fire with its PC release figures.
To add to Horizon’s woes, the anticipated Netflix live-action series is currently on ice. PlayStation Studios and Netflix pulled the plug, following reports of a "toxic work environment" under showrunner Steve Blackman, known for The Umbrella Academy. Quite the mess, right?
