The Last of Us Part II Remastered – Launch Trailer | PS5 Games – YouTube
Tencent planned to work with Aurora Studios on the pitch, but Sony declined the idea on April 8, 2024. Tencent returned to the table in May to renegotiate; Courtemanche says an email asserted Aurora felt well-positioned to adapt Horizon — not only out of enthusiasm for the franchise but because Project Z had supposedly developed relevant skills.
The discussions then shifted toward a concept tied to The Last of Us. Courtemanche travelled to Shenzhen to hear Tencent and Aurora’s proposal, only to find the pitch had pivoted back toward Horizon-like elements.
Courtemanche recalls a slide showing a female character whose costume blended tribal and metallic motifs reminiscent of Horizon, alongside a mechanical creature that looked like a Horizon robotic animal. After reviewing Light of Motiram’s marketing materials, he believes some assets on that slide may have originated from the Light of Motiram project — a confusing detail given Sony had already declined a Horizon collaboration and expected to discuss opportunities related to The Last of Us.
Communication appears to have broken down after that, culminating in the current legal dispute. The notion that Sony even entertained outsourcing a The Last of Us project is notable, even if nothing has come of those overtures so far. With Naughty Dog focused on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, Sony may be exploring alternative ways to expand the Cordyceps-infested universe — but for now the situation is only getting more tangled.
Source: gamesradar.com
