Key Takeaways
- Tencent has announced a PS5 version of Light of Motiram.
- The upcoming game recently stirred some controversy for looking like a clone of Guerrilla Games’ Horizon franchise.
- While Sony could theoretically refuse to sell Light of Motiram on the PS Store for any reason, the chances of that actually happening are currently unclear.
A PS5 version of Light of Motiram has been confirmed to be in the works. This happened just as the game stirred up some controversy for looking a bit too much like Sony’s Horizon series.
Light of Motiram was officially unveiled on November 27 as the debut title from Tencent subsidiary Polaris Quest. Its announcement invited scrutiny from PlayStation fans, not least because the game appears to have lifted its setting, entire visual identity, and some gameplay mechanics from the Horizon franchise.
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As spotted by Gematsu, the game’s international trailer was accompanied by two China-focused announcements shared via BiliBili and Weibo, both of which state that Light of Motiram is in the works for the PlayStation 5. The English-language reveal trailer only mentioned the PC version of the game, which is planned to be released via both the Epic Games Store and Steam. Mobile ports for Android and iOS devices are also in the works, but much like the PS5 port, it’s presently unclear whether they’ll be made available beyond Tencent’s home country.
PlayStation Store Could Theoretically Reject Light of Motiram
Although Light of Motiram does seem to have a striking resemblance to the Horizon games, taking inspiration from existing works isn’t illegal. Still, Sony could theoretically refuse to sell the upcoming title via the PlayStation Store for any reason whatsoever. But the chances of it actually doing so are currently unclear. Gameplay-wise, Light of Motiram will be somewhat different from Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West, in that it’s going to be a survival crafting game first and foremost. Its business model is also completely different, as Tencent plans to offer it as a live-service free-to-play experience monetized through a variety of microtransactions.
Horizon Zero Dawn spoiler related to the game’s setting ahead.
However, in terms of character and environment designs, Light of Motiram very much looks like a Horizon title. Its lore also appears to draw heavy inspiration from Guerrilla’s hit franchise, with the game’s Steam page outright stating that Light of Motiram takes place on a post-apocalyptic Earth, which was a big plot twist in Horizon Zero Dawn.
Polaris Quest’s debut title is presently targeting a 2025 release. Although Light of Motiram raised some eyebrows for its striking resemblance to Horizon, the fact that it wears its inspirations on its sleeve aligns with Tencent’s practice of consistently committing some resources to chasing popular gaming trends. Some of the recent examples of this policy include Tencent’s World of Warcraft-inspired MMORPG Tarisland, as well as Auroria, an upcoming sandbox game that appears to borrow heavily from Palworld.
