The Polaris Quest studio presented its survival game Light of Motiram. But this one really seems to have been very (too) inspired byHorizon Zero Dawn.
Since its announcement, Light of Motirama title in development under the aegis of Polaris Quest, a subsidiary of the Chinese giant Tencent, is causing a lot of discussion. The images and videos shared during the first presentations sparked a wave of astonishment… then consternation. Not for the graphic quality or the ambitions of the game, but for its striking resemblance to Horizon Zero Dawnthe PlayStation exclusive developed by Guerrilla Games.
It’s very simple: Light of Motiram has the artistic direction and colorimetry ofHorizon Zero Dawnit offers creatures that look exactly like the machines ofHorizonand takes place in a context which is very reminiscent of that of the Guerilla Games game…
That said, unlike Horizon Zero Dawn and its sequel Horizon Forbidden West, Light of Motiram will not be an open world action-adventure game, but an open area survival game, with the possibility of capturing creatures, and making them work on our behalf… Like Palworldwhich is in the middle of legal proceedings against Nintendo for plagiarism of Pokémon. The developers of Polaris Quest have revealed a trailer for their title, and it’s hard not to see it as a parody/imitation ofHorizon.
Horizon version light
Futuristic arcs, giant mechanical creatures, red-haired protagonist evolving in lush post-apocalyptic landscapes: Light of Motiram seems to excessively copy the visual and narrative identity of the Sony title.
The parallels between this game and Horizon Zero Dawn don’t stop at aesthetics. By analyzing the trailers, we notice that certain gameplay mechanics seem directly borrowed from the Guerrilla Games title. The way the mechanical creatures interact with the setting or the melee combat system evokes an almost identical reproduction.
Such proximity poses an essential question: at what point does a work free itself from its model to become an exact copy? Or rather, when does homage turn to pillage?
The Atlantic Crossing at Motiram
And Light of Motiram is intended as an homage, it fails to stand out enough to be perceived as an original product. Clearly, originality is sorely lacking here, and the specter of plagiarism seems difficult to ignore.
The case Light of Motiram also illustrates growing tensions within the video game industry. As the Chinese market establishes itself on the international scene, accusations of plagiarism multiply. Games like Genshin Impact, which has often been compared to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or Palworld and its parallels with Pokémonshow that creative boundaries are often blurred in a quest for commercial domination.
However, this phenomenon also highlights a broader issue: the protection of copyright in a globalized context. Western creators, although protected by rigorous laws in their territories, often struggle to combat copies produced in less strict jurisdictions. For Tencent, Light of Motiram could well become a new point of diplomatic friction between studios.
Beyond the simple case of Light of Motiramthis affair raises questions about the strategies of large companies. If the title ends up finding success despite the criticism, it could encourage other studios to take similar paths. Conversely, a commercial failure or a legal outcry could finally prompt a rethinking of creative practices (maybe… we hope).
One way or another, the players will be the real arbiters of this debate. While some denounce a glaring lack of originality, others see it as an opportunity to benefit from an experience that had escaped them. In fact, the games Horizon are PlayStation exclusives and were only released on PS4 and PS5, then later on PC. Gold, Lights of Motiram will be released on PC, iOs and Android, which will bring a universe close to that ofHorizon within reach of players who have never been able to touch it.
Light of Motiram currently has no release date.
