Motiram Takes Cues from Horizon Like Palworld Does from Pokemon: The Similarities Are Clear

Hey there, wake up call! The gaming world is buzzing with news of a suspiciously familiar new release that might just land Tencent Games and its subsidiary, Polaris Quest, in some hot water soon. They’ve just unveiled “Light of Motiram,” their own ‘original’ spin on PlayStation’s beloved Horizon series. And here’s the kicker—it’s set to be an MMO exclusively for PC, at least for now.

This announcement seemed to drop out of nowhere, paired with a detailed press release (thanks to Gematsu), alongside trailers and screenshots, not to mention a Steam page brimming with early insights. Additionally, the game will also be available on the Epic Games Store. However, they’ve yet to reveal whether players will have to purchase the game or if it will follow a free-to-play model.

On the bright side for the developers of Palworld, their game might fly a bit more under the radar now as “Light of Motiram” will likely grab the spotlight in the upcoming weeks, particularly for its brazen resemblance to a well-established IP. It’s honestly hard to picture a world where Sony doesn’t start hurling legal threats in Tencent’s direction. From its visual style to the designs of its creatures—which certainly made me double and triple check—the game is treading on some seriously bold territory.

Take a look at the main teaser trailer down below:

[YouTube video link]

Interestingly, this announcement comes before PlayStation has even gone public about their own online-only Horizon game, which appears to be a major push for them into the live-service realm—a move that’s been giving Sony’s execs some serious headaches. If Palworld’s initial success is anything to go by (enough to keep funding its development for years), it seems casual gamers aren’t too concerned with how much of a knockoff a game is, as long as it’s enjoyable. If Polaris Quest nails a captivating gameplay experience, PlayStation and Guerrilla might find themselves in murky waters with their own Horizon live-service project. Another reason to anticipate some courtroom drama, wouldn’t you say?

Promising to dive into the lucrative survival and crafting elements, Light of Motiram appears to offer a combat experience somewhat reminiscent of Monster Hunter. It’s a logical leap if you’re thinking about translating Horizon’s epic mechanical battles into a cooperative setup, to be quite frank. I’d even bet Guerrilla’s eyeing a similar approach with their much-anticipated Horizon project.

Here’s a glimpse of an epic mechanical mammoth battle—not Horizon, though.

[Image describing battle scene]

While brimming with potential, Horizon’s journey hasn’t been without hurdles. Despite Sony’s push to spotlight it as a flagship series, excitement around it often fizzles shortly after each launch. It doesn’t help that Horizon entries tend to debut alongside flashier titles, and recently, sales for Lego Horizon Adventures reportedly fell short, at least on PC.

Adding to its woes, plans for a live-action Horizon series with Netflix have hit pause. Apparently, PlayStation Studios and the streaming giant pulled the plug, following reports that showrunner Steve Blackman (known for The Umbrella Academy) fostered a difficult work environment. Ouch.