NEW DELHI: Garena, a Singapore-based game developer and digital entertainment arm of Sea Group has announced the return of its popular mobile battle royale game Free Fire in India India. “Free Fire India” is all set to take the nation’s video-gaming industry by storm as it will be available to download in the country from September 5.
Free Fire along with 53 other mobile apps was banned by the Indian government in February last year.
Sharing his thoughts on the game’s return, Animesh Agarwal, founder & CEO of esports consulting and talent agency 8Bit Creatives and co-founder of S8UL said: “India has always been a pivotal pillar of Free Fire’s global user base and its return opens the doors to exceptional avenues that will bolster the gaming landscape of the country With the game’s re-launch, there will be a remarkable surge in the frequency of tournaments with lucrative prize pools for players to make a name for themselves.
“The impact of the game will not be limited to just the competitive scenario as it will be a significant boost to the creators’ community as well. By providing creators with diverse and immersive content, Free Fire India will enable them to grow and expand their fanbase within the industry. As the game gains renewed attention and engagement, there will also be an influx of interest as well as investments from brands into the ecosystem.
“We are excited for this new chapter to unfold and look forward to witnessing the rise of the video gaming sector in India.”
Lokesh Suji, director, Esports Federation of India & vice president of the Asian Esports Federation (AESF), stated: “The re-entry of FreeFire brings immense promise for players across the nation, amplifying the competitive spirit and paving the way for recognition and opportunities on a global scale. Marking a pivotal step forward in the growth of competitive gaming, ESFI supports such endeavors which will guide the industry towards unparalleled growth and excellence.”
As per data from Sensor Tower, Garena Free Fire generated $1.1 billion in revenue from January to December 2021. Garena Free Fire was also the most downloaded game worldwide in 2021 across the App Store and Play Store with 218 million downloads on mobile devices.
Suji added: “We anticipate a ripple effect that will encourage the inception of more high-profile tournaments and events. This move ignites the momentum needed to realize our collective vision of a vibrant and thriving esports landscape in India. India will now witness the continued growth of Esports prize pools and userbase with FreeFire India leveraging it further to invigorate our Esports landscape.
“While embracing this wave of progress, it is also crucial that the Indian government exercises vigilance over the aspect of security and data privacy. Safeguarding the interests of players and enthusiasts alike is a collective responsibility that ensures the sustainability and credibility of our Esports journey.”
The 2021 Free Fire World Series, a Garena Free Fire tournament hosted by Singapore, became the most-watched Esports event of all time, with a recorded 5.41 million peak viewers, according to Statista.
“Free Fire India’s launch is a game-changer, set to transform India’s Esports scene. It heralds more tournaments, increased earnings, and massive prize pools, mirroring Free Fire’s firm grip on India’s user base. Despite no Indian teams at the Free Fire World Series 2022 Grand Finals, the Hindi stream astonishingly recorded peak viewership. As Freefire restarts in India, we’re excited for viewership to break new records. This is an exhilarating time for our players who stand to reap huge benefits. At Gods Reign, renowned for crafting championship-winning rosters, we’re in talks with several Freefire rosters. We can’t wait to announce our new roster soon, adding another thrilling chapter to this vibrant esports story of Gods Reign,” commented Devam “Dev” Vyas, vice president of Esports at Gods Reign, a leading Indian esports organization.
Shiva Nandy, founder and CEO, Skyesports, opined: “Free Fire has always been an exciting esports title and one for which we organized several tournaments back in early 2022 before the ban. I am thrilled to see the game come back and look forward to including it in our original IPs while synergizing with Garena to grow the game in India. I anticipate it to reclaim much of its earlier player base while welcoming many new players as well.”
Rohit Jagasia, founder and CEO, Revenant Esports, commented: “Only a year ago with the bans on Free Fire and BGMI, the Indian esports scenario was struggling with a dearth of options for the country’s mobile gamers. I applaud Garena in their efforts to bring Free Fire India and already make a commitment towards esports which will be a big boost to welcoming old and new players alike. While we don’t currently have an esports roster in the game, we are always on the lookout for potential titles to enter and Free Fire is certainly one on our radar.”
According to Sensor Tower store intelligence data, the most downloaded mobile game globally in June 2023 was Garena’s Free Fire (including Free Fire MAX), with nearly 19 million downloads. The country with the most downloads of Free Fire during this period was India with 27.9% of the total, followed by Indonesia and Vietnam with 12.7% and 8.1% respectively.
