Gameloft recently launched its new HTML5 battle royale game, The Battle Ground, on Samsung’s Mobile Gaming Hub with instant play support. While the launch itself is innovative, the title has raised eyebrows in India due to its similarity with Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), one of the country’s most popular mobile games.
With no Indian platform reporting on this yet, the development could open discussions around branding, trademarks, and possible legal perception in the gaming industry.
The Battle Ground vs BGMI: The Name Similarity Coincidence or Concern?
At first glance, the names look strikingly similar:
- Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI)
- The Battle Ground
Both contain the core phrase “Battle Ground.” While BGMI uses the plural form “Battlegrounds,” the phonetic similarity is hard to ignore, especially in the Indian market, where BGMI dominates the battle royale segment.
For casual gamers, this similarity could create initial confusion, particularly in search results, social media mentions, or word-of-mouth discussions.
Could There Be Legal Implications?
From a legal perspective, trademarks generally protect brand identity, logos, and distinctive naming combinations.
However, words like “battle” and “ground” are relatively generic in the gaming industry, especially in the battle royale genre. The term “battleground” has been used globally in multiple gaming titles for years.
Unless a name directly copies a registered trademark in a misleading way, legal action is typically unlikely. That said, companies often monitor brand similarity to prevent market confusion.
If BGMI’s trademark specifically protects the full title “Battlegrounds Mobile India,” Gameloft’s “The Battle Ground” may fall into a different category legally, but the perception debate still remains.
Read More: Gameloft Launches ‘The Battle Ground’ on Samsung Mobile Gaming Hub with 100% Instant Play
The Battle Ground vs BGMI: Market Impact in India
India is one of the largest markets for battle royale games. BGMI has millions of active players, a strong esports presence, and massive brand recall.
If The Battle Ground becomes more visible in India, especially through Samsung Galaxy devices, some users might initially associate it with BGMI due to name similarity.
However, the two games are fundamentally different:
- BGMI is a full-scale downloadable mobile esports title.
- The Battle Ground is an HTML5 instant-play game focused on accessibility.
The difference in platform and gameplay format reduces direct competition, but branding comparison is inevitable.
Industry Trend: Generic Naming in Battle Royale Games
The battle royale genre often uses common military-style words such as Battle, Ground, Royale, Survival, and Arena.
Because of this, similar naming structures are not uncommon. The key factor is whether branding causes intentional confusion or market overlap.
As of now, there is no official statement from Krafton or Gameloft regarding any concerns.
Bigger Picture: Innovation vs Controversy
While the name similarity may spark debate, the bigger story remains Gameloft’s push into HTML5 instant play gaming via Samsung’s Mobile Gaming Hub.
The launch reflects a shift toward lightweight gaming experiences that remove download barriers and attract casual users.
Still, in a competitive market like India, even a slight naming overlap can quickly become a talking point.
Gameloft’s The Battle Ground could become a trending topic in India, not just for its instant play feature, but for its resemblance in naming to BGMI.
Whether this leads to legal discussions or remains just a coincidence will depend on how the Indian gaming community and publishers respond in the coming weeks.
For now, it stands as an interesting case of branding perception in a highly competitive battle royale market.