Singapore-based Garena, a global online games developer and publisher, has introduced Free Fire India, a game exclusively available for download in India starting September 5, 2023. This version has special content and features to encourage safe and enjoyable gameplay.
Free Fire India
This follows the Indian Government’s decision in February 2022 to ban 54 mobile apps, including the original Free Fire. Free Fire India includes features for Indian users and aims to ensure safe and enjoyable gameplay. It has a verification system for parental supervision, gameplay limits, and ‘take a break’ reminders.
At the launch event, the company said that Yotta, a Hiranandani Group company, will provide local cloud hosting and storage for Free Fire India. Yotta, an authorized service provider, will manage Indian users’ data on local servers, supporting Garena’s product offerings and esports in India.
Indian Sports Stars Join In
The game also celebrates India by featuring cricket legend MS Dhoni as the brand ambassador and a playable character named “Thala.” Other Indian sports icons like football captain Sunil Chhetri, badminton champion Saina Nehwal, tennis legend Leander Paes, and Kabbadi champion Rahul Chaudhari will also join as characters.
Free Fire India Championship (FFIC)
Garena and Yotta previously partnered with the Government of Uttar Pradesh to develop esports in India. The Free Fire India Championship (FFIC) is set to occur this month, where teams from India can compete for a chance to represent the country at the Free Fire World Series in Thailand this November.
Availability
Garena’s Free Fire India will be available for download in India starting from September 5, 2023. More details about FFIC and other esports initiatives for Free Fire India will be shared in the coming weeks.
Commenting at the event, H.E. Simon Wong, High Commissioner of Singapore to India, said,
The launch of Free Fire India by Garena and their dedication to localizing and growing the esports ecosystem in India is a clear indication of the country’s potential for global leadership in the mobile gaming and esports industry. I am excited to see more collaborations between India and Singapore in the fields of digital media, entertainment, and esports.
Speaking at the launch, Gang Ye, Co-founder of Garena, said
India has a thriving community of esports enthusiasts, and we are thrilled to support our fans in Bharat with the launch of Free Fire India.
Our goal is to provide an engaging and highly localized experience for Indian users, and our partnership with Yotta will ensure top-quality gameplay and secure protection of Indian user data.
We are also dedicated to supporting the growth of India’s esports and startup ecosystems, and the Free Fire India Esports Championships is just the beginning of our efforts to empower Indian esports athletes to achieve global success.
Commenting on the launch, Darshan Hiranandani, Co-founder & Chairman, Yotta, said:
Our collaboration with Garena is a powerful testament to the advancements made in the Indian data center industry. We are proud to offer our unique expertise in data hosting and cybersecurity for the benefit of Indian users. This partnership will pave the way for further technological cooperation between India and Singapore.