By Sagar V. Mankar 
Singaporean game developer and publisher Garena is reportedly planning to revive the esports scene for its popular battle royale game, Free Fire, in India. This comes nearly three years after the game was banned under IT Act 69A in 2022.
The speculation gained traction after Garena posted several job openings on LinkedIn in mid-December. These positions, including roles in data analysis, marketing, esports management, and strategic operations, are specifically targeted at the Indian market.
After its removal from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store in 2022, Garena had initially planned to relaunch a localized version of the game, “Free Fire India,” in late 2023. The company even teased the launch in August 2023, featuring cricket legend Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the brand ambassador. However, the launch was postponed, reportedly due to pending compliance requirements with Indian regulations.
Recent job postings hint that Garena is preparing for Free Fire esports in 2025. However, roles such as Senior Associate/Assistant Manager, Esports Broadcast & Content Producer, and Associate/Senior Associate, Esports Marketing, indicate a focus on the international version, “Free Fire Max,” rather than the unlaunched localized “Free Fire India.” This has led to speculation that Garena might introduce esports tournaments in India with the international version first, potentially as a promotional strategy. Another theory suggests Garena may drop the localized version entirely and focus on developing the Indian esports scene through the global version.
A significant reason behind this approach could be the concerns raised by Indian esports players about the duality of games like BGMI and PUBG Mobile. The presence of two versions often restricted Indian players from participating in international tournaments. By focusing on a standalone game, Garena might aim to streamline competitive opportunities and nurture India’s presence in global esports.
Meanwhile, Garena has already unveiled its global esports roadmap for 2025, featuring 12 tournaments across regions including Southeast Asia (SEA), Latin America (LATAM), Brazil, Middle East and Africa (MEA), and Pakistan. While India isn’t explicitly included in the initial global schedule, the job listings suggest Garena is planning a unique strategy tailored to the Indian market.
Additional listings, such as Associate/Senior Associate in Strategic Operations, hint at the possibility of “Free Fire India” still being in the pipeline.
Furthermore, backend/server programmer roles point toward servers in Navi Mumbai, which was announced last year in collaboration with Yotta Data Services.
Currently, Free Fire Max (International version) has over 200 million downloads globally, with over 50% of its player base originating from India, according to data from AppMagic. These figures highlight the strong demand and growth potential for Free Fire in the Indian market.
Sources: LinkedIn Job Listings