Free Fire is Back in India! Relaunch Confirmed, First Esports Event from July 13
By: Saumya Nigam | Published: July 5, 2025 | Updated: July 5, 2025 | New Delhi
After being banned in India since February 2022, Garena Free Fire, one of the most popular battle royale games, is officially returning. Free Fire India announced the relaunch on social media and revealed its first major esports event: the Free Fire Max India Cup 2025, which will run from July 13 to September 28 with a prize pool of ?1 crore.
Why is this significant?
The game’s return is expected to revive India’s competitive mobile gaming and esports scene, which was heavily impacted by the ban. Before its removal, Free Fire had a massive player base and an established esports ecosystem in the country.
About the Free Fire Max India Cup 2025
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Dates: July 13 – September 28, 2025
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Prize pool: ?1 crore
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This is the first official tournament in India since the ban.
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Open to gamers who have continued playing Free Fire Max during the ban.
The bigger picture
India remains the largest mobile gaming market globally, with 8.45 billion downloads in FY 2024-25, according to Sensor Tower. The return of Free Fire is a big boost for gamers, content creators, and the esports community in India.