Firegame reinstated in India following a three-year ban
After a year-long absence, the popular battle royale game Free Fire has made a comeback in India with the relaunch of a localized version called Free Fire India. The game, developed by Singapore-based Sea Ltd., was banned by the Indian government in February 2024 due to national security concerns, as part of a broader crackdown on certain apps over data privacy and security issues.
The ban had a significant impact on the Indian gaming ecosystem, disrupting the Indian esports scene linked with Free Fire and creating a void in the battle royale segment. Thousands of professionals, including players, coaches, analysts, event organizers, and content creators, were affected, and many Indian Free Fire teams missed major international events.
However, on August 31, 2025, Garena announced the relaunch of Free Fire India, scheduled for September 5, 2025. The new version will be hosted locally with cloud hosting and storage infrastructure provided by Yotta, a company under the Hiranandani Group, ensuring data is stored and protected within India. This move aims to address data privacy concerns and comply with local regulations.
The Free Fire Max India Cup 2025 (FFMIC 2025) has been announced as the first major tournament for the title in India since the FFIC Fall 2021. The FFMIC 2025 is an open-format tournament, allowing participation from individual players and teams without organizational backing. Participants must have achieved at least Diamond 1 rank and be at Level 40 or higher in the game. The tournament format includes in-game qualifiers, online qualifiers, a league stage, and grand finals.
The top 8 teams in the FFMIC 2025 will compete in an offline LAN event, marking a return to traditional competitive gaming after the shift towards online events due to the pandemic. The FFMIC 2025 features a prize pool of ₹1 crore (US $116,900), positioning it among the more prominent esports events in India, although it remains smaller than recent BGMI tournaments.
Free Fire Max, an enhanced version of the original Free Fire game, offering improved graphics, smoother performance, and higher frame rates, is likely to serve as the main platform for future esports events and community engagement in India. The relaunch of Free Fire India is a significant step for the game's return to the Indian market and a sign of Garena's commitment to compliance with Indian regulations and data protection measures.
Sports enthusiasts in India will be thrilled to learn about the return of the popular battle royale game, Free Fire, with the relaunch of a localized version called Free Fire India. This comeback marks a significant moment for the Indian esports scene, as the game's relaunch promises to address data privacy concerns and comply with local regulations.
