The wait is finally over for millions of gamers in India. Garena Free Fire, which was banned by the Indian government in 2022 for security reasons, has made its comeback after 3.5 years under the new name Free Fire India. The game has been relisted on the Google Play Store, and pre-registrations have begun.
The launch of this new version of Free Fire has been discussed several times in recent years, but it was postponed for one reason or another. Now, the company has created excitement among gamers by making an official announcement. The return of the game is creating a buzz not only in the gaming community but also in the e-sports sector.
Why was it banned in 2022?
In February 2022, the Indian government banned Garena Free Fire, along with several Chinese-linked apps, due to national security concerns. At that time, Free Fire had millions of active users, and its Max version remained available for a while, which gamers continued to play. Subsequently, Garena prepared to launch the game in a new way, keeping in mind data privacy, security, and local guidelines in India. This is why it is now being relaunched as Free Fire India.
What's new in Free Fire India?
In Free Fire India, players will get more secure and features in line with Indian regulations. According to reports —
- Better data protection
- Local servers
- Parental control
- Gaming limits
facilities will be provided. In addition, some changes have been made to the game's graphics, characters, skins, and maps to give Indian users a more engaging experience.
Free Fire India Cup: Thrilling times in e-sports too
The return of Free Fire India is big news not only for gamers but also for e-sports enthusiasts. The company has also announced a tournament called the Free Fire India Cup, which will run from July 13 to September 28, 2025. This tournament will be held in four phases —
- In-game qualifiers
- Online qualifiers
- League stage
- Grand finale
Registration for this can be done between July 7 and July 13 through the FFC (Free Fire Cup) mode. Garena believes that this tournament will give a new boost to the popularity of Free Fire in India.
How to download Free Fire India?
If you are also waiting to play Free Fire India, here's a step-by-step guide —
- Step 1: First, go to the Google Play Store
- Step 2: Search for Free Fire India
- Step 3: Click on the app and press the pre-register button
- Step 4: As soon as the game is available, a notification will appear on your registered device
- Step 5: Then you can download the game and start playing immediately
The craze for Free Fire continues in India
Free Fire has a huge fan base in India. Despite the ban, millions of Indian gamers continued to play its Max version or on other platforms. As soon as the news of its return came after 3.5 years, #FreeFireIndia started trending on social media. Gaming experts believe that like BGMI, Free Fire India can also touch record-breaking downloads and active user figures after its return.
A spokesperson for Garena said, "We are very excited to launch Free Fire India for Indian gamers, which will be safe, exciting, and tailored to local needs. We will have robust monitoring and privacy protection features to give gamers a great experience."
