Sony takes Tencent to court over video game rip-off

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Sony is taking Tencent to court, accusing the Chinese tech titan of copying its hit Horizon video game series. 

In a lawsuit filed Friday in California, Sony calls Tencent's upcoming title Light of Motiram a "slavish clone" of Horizon Zero Dawn—right down to the red-haired heroine, robotic wildlife, and post-apocalyptic tribes.

Sony says it rejected a pitch from Tencent last year to collaborate on a new Horizon game. Months later, Light of Motiram was announced—with gameplay, themes, and art Sony claims are nearly identical. 

Critics have already panned it as "Horizon Zero Originality."

Sony is asking the court to block the release and award damages for copyright and trademark infringement.

Tencent, based in Shenzhen, is one of the world's biggest tech firms, known for WeChat, Honor of Kings, PUBG Mobile, and ownership of League of Legends maker Riot Games.