Sony Sues Tencent Over Horizon Copyright
Tencent has not backed down in its legal battle against Sony over allegations that its upcoming game “Origin of the Wild” copies the Horizon series. The two companies have faced each other in court multiple times.
Sony, the PlayStation manufacturer, initially described Tencent’s title as a “blatant copy”, demanding that the project be completely halted. Sony argued that the similarities could have a substantial impact on the future growth of the Horizon franchise.
Tencent, however, filed a motion to dismiss the case, claiming that Sony was seeking an “illegal monopoly over common genre conventions” in gaming. The company also pointed out that Horizon itself shares similarities with other titles such as The Legend of Zelda and Enslaved: Odyssey to the West.
Sony, Tencent, Horizon Zero Dawn Lawsuit
PlayStation dismissed Tencent’s arguments as “absurd”, accusing the Chinese company of “hiding behind its numerous subsidiaries.” According to The Game Post, Tencent has now responded again, asking the court once more to dismiss the case. Tencent argued that since Origin of the Wild is not scheduled for release until late 2027, Sony is “complaining about a future act” involving an unreleased project, making the case premature and “not ripe for adjudication.”
Although Sony accused Tencent of concealing its responsibility through subsidiaries, Tencent reiterated that Sony had sued the wrong entity. While Tencent holds a controlling stake, it is neither the developer nor the publisher of the game. The actual development is being handled by Tencent Shanghai and Proximity Beta—both subsidiaries under Tencent but independent corporate entities.
Tencent also pushed back against PlayStation’s claim regarding the protagonist Aloy, arguing that “fame does not constitute a trademark.” The company stated that Sony cannot rely solely on the character’s popularity or recognizability, asserting that Sony has failed to demonstrate that Aloy’s appearance functions as a trademark outside the game. Tencent noted:
“In the complaint, Sony alleges that its claimed trademark features include the character’s clothing, accessories, and facial markings. Such vague descriptions are insufficient to establish a trademark.”
Both Sony and Tencent have now had the opportunity to present their arguments, and the court will next decide whether the case should proceed or be dismissed. PlayStation is seeking to move the case forward, with the ultimate goal of halting Origin of the Wild, while Tencent hopes to have it thrown out entirely. If the ruling favors Sony and Tencent refuses to settle, the two sides may be locked in a lengthy legal battle. The court is expected to issue a decision soon on whether the case will move forward.
The above content is compiled by ModeZone, a fashion and entertainment magazine.
