In the course of Lawsuit against Tencent and the supposedly plagiarizing survival game Light of Motiram Sony has revealed a remarkable detail. HorizonThe series has now sold over 38 million copies, an increase of around five million units since the last official figure in April 2023.
The fact that this figure appears in a court document says a lot about the dynamics between Western IP owners and the Chinese games market, and also shows how reserved Sony usually is with such information.
Light of Motiram: Between Inspiration and Imitation?
According to Sony, Light of Motiram not just a thematically related game, but a "slavish clone" of Horizon Zero DawnThe accusations are serious. Not only is Tencent accused of blatant copy-paste design, but it is also pointed out that... Horizon-franchise originally wanted to license, before apparently opting for the alternative version.
The case is significant because Sony apparently intends to halt the game's distribution, a rare step that demonstrates how seriously the matter is being taken. Given that the Chinese market has increasingly adopted and adapted Western game concepts in recent years, this action is likely to have far-reaching consequences.
Horizon remains one of the most successful PS franchises.
With the updated figures, Horizon now clearly in the top league of PlayStation brands. Behind Gran Turismo with over 90 million units and God of War with 66 million units. The Last of Us With 37 million units, it's close behind. The five million additional sales likely stem from the PC release of Forbidden West, the remaster of Zero dawn and the family-friendly spin-off LEGO Horizon Adventures to assemble. A third main part is likely in the works, but this has not yet been confirmed.
That Sony within the framework of Light of Motiram-Law finally sees sales figures again for Horizon The fact that this is being called a PR side effect is almost a side effect. At the same time, the case shows how sensitive IP rights have become in a globalized market and how consistently Sony now acts when one of its core brands is threatened. Fans can only hope that new games will follow the lawsuits soon.
