Light of Motiram: A Controversial New Project from Tencent's Polaris Quest

mmorpg.com:

Polaris Quest, a company owned by the Chinese giant Tencent, has unveiled its new project: Light of Motiram. This open-world survival game has sparked controversy (and curiosity) with its shocking resemblance to other established titles, such as Horizon Zero Dawn and Palworld.

The “Inspirations”

Light of Motiram is set in a post-apocalyptic land. In this open world, players will wrestle against huge “Mechanimals” that stalk humans. As mankind tries to reset itself at the dawn of a primitive new age, it immediately feels analogous to the pitch of Horizon Zero Dawn’s franchise from Sony.

Not only the story but also the marketing of Light of Motiram has been scrutinized, as they seem almost identical to Horizon Zero Dawn. For instance, the main visuals seem explicitly intended to be derivative, showing parallel sceneries to the Guerrilla Games franchise ones. Indeed, Light of Motiram's promotional materials show striking similarities to the Horizon aesthetic, whether it's the typography or character design.

Also, in terms of gameplay, Light of Motiram ironically seems to borrow elements from Palworld (which is itself currently being pursued by Nintendo). The developer and publisher of Light of Motiram are obviously well aware of these comparisons and are probably using this media stunt to promote their game.

Industry Reactions

The announcement of Light of Motiram has sparked controversy from industry veterans. Mike Ybarra, former Blizzard president, commented on social media with just “Ladies and gentlemen — Tencent”, highlighting what he perceives as a lack of originality.

The CEO of Kantan Games, Dr. Serkan Toto, also found amusement in the lack of creativity the game exhibits. Naturally, many social media commentators are calling it “shameless”.