Garena Free Fire is a popular mobile battle royale game developed and published by Garena. It was first released globally on December 8, 2017, for Android and iOS devices, where it quickly became one of the most downloaded mobile games worldwide due to its fast-paced gameplay and accessibility on a wide range of devices. Since launch, Free Fire has amassed hundreds of millions of players and maintained a strong esports presence internationally.
Global Release History
The original Free Fire game went live on 8 December 2017, offering 50-player battle royale matches on mobile platforms. Its low-end device optimisation and engaging gameplay mechanics helped it become one of the top mobile games globally, especially in regions like Southeast Asia, Latin America and India.
India Situation
In February 2022, Free Fire was banned in India along with several other apps due to concerns about data privacy and security, and the game was removed from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store in the country. Despite this, its enhanced version Free Fire MAX remained available and has been actively supported, including esports events such as the Free Fire Max India Cup 2025 with a ₹1 crore prize pool, marking the franchise’s competitive return to the Indian gaming scene.
Free Fire India Relaunch Status
Garena previously planned to relaunch a Free Fire India version tailored for Indian players, with an initial target release date of 5 September 2023, but this launch was postponed indefinitely as the company worked on localization and compliance requirements.
As of early 2026, Free Fire India has not been officially released yet and there is no confirmed launch date announced by Garena. Although there is ongoing speculation and industry chatter about a potential 2026 release window, nothing has been officially verified, and the game remains unavailable for public download on Indian app stores.
Inside Sport India
While the dedicated India version isn’t out yet, players in India can still play Free Fire MAX, which continues to receive updates, new seasons (like the January 2026 Booyah Pass) and in-game events that keep the community active.