Summary
A PS5 version ofLight of Motiramhas 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’sHorizonseries.
Light of Motiramwas officially unveiled on November 27 as the debut title fromTencent subsidiaryPolaris 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 theHorizonfranchise.
Asspottedby Gematsu, the game’s international trailer was accompanied by two China-focused announcements shared via BiliBili and Weibo, both of which state thatLight of Motiramis 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 theEpic 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
AlthoughLight of Motiramdoes seem to have a striking resemblance to theHorizongames, 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 Motiramwill be somewhat different fromHorizon Zero DawnandForbidden 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 Motiramvery much looks like aHorizontitle. Its lore also appears to draw heavy inspiration from Guerrilla’s hit franchise, with the game’s Steam page outright stating thatLight of Motiramtakes place on a post-apocalyptic Earth, which was a big plot twist inHorizon Zero Dawn.
Polaris Quest’s debut title is presently targeting a 2025 release. AlthoughLight of Motiramraised some eyebrows for its striking resemblance toHorizon, 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 includeTencent’sWorld of Warcraft-inspired MMORPGTarisland, as well asAuroria, an upcoming sandbox game that appears to borrow heavily fromPalworld.
