Hey there, I’ve got some juicy news from the gaming world that’s sure to stir up some controversy. Tencent Games, along with their affiliate Polaris Quest, has just rolled out Light of Motiram, a game that draws heavy inspiration from PlayStation’s Horizon series. What’s really stirring the pot is that it’s an MMO designed exclusively for PC, at least for now.
The announcement seemed to come out of the blue, complete with a broad press release that was picked up by Gematsu, showcasing trailers, screenshots, and even a Steam page brimming with details. They’re also planning to release it through the Epic Games Store. However, they’ve kept mum about how much it’ll cost or if they’re going with a free-to-play model.
Looks like the developers of Palworld can breathe a sigh of relief since Light of Motiram seems poised to steal the spotlight in the realm of copycat games. I’m guessing Sony’s about to have a lawyer-laden hissy fit over this one. The aesthetics and creature designs are so reminiscent of Horizon that I had to do more than a double take.
If you haven’t seen it yet, the main teaser trailer is available, with more footage rolling out:
Check it out on YouTube.
What’s tickling me about this situation is that Tencent’s announcement comes before PlayStation has even shown off its own online Horizon title. This seems like a major move in the live-service game space, a venture that’s likely causing Sony some stress. Palworld’s previous success showed us that players are more interested in fun gameplay than originality. So if Polaris Quest manages to nail that engaging gameplay loop, PlayStation and Guerrilla might have their work cut out for them, anticipating waves of legal drama ahead.
Now, Light of Motiram plans to ride the co-op survival and crafting wave that’s proven so lucrative lately. The combat appears influenced by Monster Hunter, which fits, considering the kind of cooperative machine battles it will feature. I’d bet Guerrilla is eyeing this formula for their ongoing Horizon endeavors.
But don’t get me wrong, Horizon hasn’t had it easy. Despite being one of Sony’s major franchises, it seems to stumble into one challenge after another. New Horizon entries consistently face tough competition, and word has it that the Lego Horizon Adventures struggled with sales, particularly on PC.
If that wasn’t enough, the planned live-action Horizon series for Netflix has hit pause. PlayStation Studios and Netflix have put the brakes on it for now, amidst reports that producer Steve Blackman created a “toxic work environment.” Ouch.
