Tencent’s “Wilderness Origin” Accused of Plagiarism: The Crux and Lessons of a Game-IP Dispute
Introduction: IP Controversies in the Gaming Industry
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In July 2025, Sony Interactive Entertainment filed suit against Tencent in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, claiming that Tencent’s game Wilderness Origin infringes Sony’s renowned Horizon IP. The case has drawn worldwide attention and is already regarded as one of the most emblematic IP disputes of 2025.
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Background and Allegations in Detail
2.1 Scope of the Complaint
Across a 400-page complaint, Sony contends that Wilderness Origin amounts to a “slavish clone” in gameplay mechanics, narrative framework, and visual art. Key points of similarity include open-world architecture, mechanical-creature design, and character-progression systems.
2.2 Behind-the-Scenes Negotiations
Sony’s filing also reveals earlier talks. In March 2024, Tencent executives approached Sony at an annual developer conference to propose a mobile Horizon title. Tencent even submitted a pitch deck titled Expanding Horizon, which proposed retaining Horizon’s open-world formula while layering on East-Asian aesthetics, survival-crafting, and pet-taming mechanics. Sony declined; Tencent had already green-lit Wilderness Origin in 2023.
2.3 Marketing Reaction
On 29 November 2024, PlayStation China tweeted promotional assets for Wilderness Origin, hinting at deeper collaboration. By 2025, however, Sony’s branding vanished from all marketing, and the original tweet was deleted—behavior Sony now cites as evidence of Tencent’s “act-first, ask-later” strategy.
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Legal Analysis
3.1 Copyright and Trademark Infringement
Sony alleges violations of both copyright and trademark. While gameplay mechanics per se are rarely protected, the suit focuses on protectable expression—visual art, character designs, and narrative structure—where substantial similarity may be actionable.
3.2 The Line Between Fair Inspiration and Copying
“Borrowing” is common in gaming, but Sony argues that Wilderness Origin crosses the threshold. Journalists have already nicknamed the title “Horizon Zero Originality,” underscoring its perceived lack of originality.
3.3 Remedies Sought
Sony seeks an injunction halting further development, release, or distribution of Wilderness Origin, statutory damages of up to US $150,000 per infringed work, and the surrender and destruction of all infringing materials.
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Business Analysis
4.1 Market Rivalry and the Collapse of Cooperation
While Tencent and Sony are not direct competitors globally, Tencent’s status as the exclusive distributor of Nintendo Switch in China places it at odds with Sony’s PlayStation ecosystem there. The suit may therefore be a strategic warning shot to safeguard Sony’s market dominance.
4.2 Industry Implications
The dispute has reignited debate over how the industry should police itself. Developers must tread carefully between “inspiration” and infringement, and future partnerships must spell out rights and obligations more explicitly.
4.3 Prospects for Settlement
Industry analyst Ding Daoshi notes that prior cooperation talks broke down, leading to litigation. Even if plagiarism is proven, Tencent could opt for financial compensation or a future cross-licensing deal rather than pulling the game.
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Conclusion: The Imperative of IP Protection
The Wilderness Origin controversy underscores both the complexity and the necessity of robust IP protection in gaming. As the market expands, developers must prioritize originality and formalize partnerships to avert similar legal battles. With stronger laws and heightened industry self-discipline, the sector can better safeguard creative assets going forward.
