Garena, the gaming subsidiary of Singapore-based Sea, has relaunched its popular battle royale game Free Fire in India more than four years after the government banned it over national security concerns. The localized version, called Free Fire India, became available on Android and iOS on October 28, 2026, featuring India-specific content, parental controls and locally hosted user data.
According to Garena’s official announcement, the standalone game includes playtime limits, spending restrictions and parental consent requirements for users under 18. The company has also introduced locally themed events, including a Diwali campaign running until November 15.
Free Fire Returns After 2022 Ban and Delayed Relaunch
India banned Free Fire in February 2022 alongside 53 other applications over alleged security concerns involving connections to China. The decision followed the government’s September 2020 ban on PUBG Mobile, which had previously helped Free Fire attract a larger audience.
The restriction affected Sea’s market valuation, with the company losing more than $16 billion in market capitalization in a single trading session following the announcement. However, Free Fire MAX, an upgraded version of the game, was not included in the ban and remained accessible to Indian players.
Garena initially announced plans to release Free Fire India in September 2023 but postponed the launch shortly afterward. Vaibhav Das Mundhra, Garena’s head of operations in India, said the company worked with relevant government authorities and incorporated their feedback, although he did not explain the prolonged delay.
Free Fire India Introduces Local Features and Account Compatibility
Garena said Free Fire India will operate alongside Free Fire MAX, allowing users to retain their accounts, participate in shared events and play together across both versions. The company has also optimized the new game for smartphones with varying hardware capabilities.
While preparing the relaunch, Garena continued developing India-focused mobile games through its studios in Pune and Mumbai. These projects included titles based on cricket, Hindu mythology and traditional board games such as Ludo.
India’s Mobile Gaming Market Records Continued Growth
According to Sensor Tower, Free Fire’s franchise recorded approximately 77.4 million monthly active users in India during June 2026, compared with 20.8 million for Krafton’s Battlegrounds Mobile India. The figures reflect the franchise’s continued presence despite the original game’s removal.
India recorded approximately 2 billion mobile game downloads in the second quarter of 2026, an increase of 14.2% from the preceding quarter, while gaming revenue rose 3.7% to more than $106 million, according to Sensor Tower.
Garena has also maintained its involvement in Indian esports, with teams including S8UL Esports, Apex Gaming and Total Gaming competing at the Esports World Cup 2026. S8UL co-founder and CEO Animesh Agarwal said Free Fire India’s return could create additional opportunities for professional players, content creators and gaming communities.
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