Battle Royale Games have captivated the hearts of Indian gaming enthusiasts, and titles such as Garena Free Fire, BGMI, and Call of Duty have achieved remarkable popularity within the Indian gaming landscape. These games hold a special place in the hearts of millions of Indian players, and any updates concerning them carry substantial significance. The recent comeback of BGMI in India, following a 10-month ban, brought immense joy to its fans. This revival sparked optimism among Garena Free Fire players, fueling speculations about the game’s potential resurgence in the country.
The long-awaited return of Garena Free Fire enthusiasts has finally come to fruition, as the game prepares to make its reentry into the Indian market under a fresh identity, coupled with updated regulations. In February 2022, the Indian Government implemented bans on applications like Free Fire, BGMI, and others due to security apprehensions.
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Reintroduction of Garena Free Fire in India
Garena Free Fire is gearing up for its reintroduction in the Indian market under the banner of “Free Fire India.” As stated by the developers, the game will showcase “distinctive content and elements designed to cultivate a secure, wholesome, and enjoyable gaming experience. ” Yotta, a subsidiary of the Hiranandani Group, is set to provide localized cloud hosting and storage infrastructure for the game.
According to a press release from Garena, “Yotta, as a MeitY-empanelled service provider, will ensure top-tier management of personal data belonging to Indian users through local servers and network connectivity services, supporting Garena’s product offerings in India, including export.”
The re-launched version of the game is scheduled for download starting from September 5 and will introduce features like a verification system for parental supervision, gameplay constraints, and reminders for taking breaks.
MS Dhoni’s Role as a Playable Character
Garena has also unveiled that renowned cricketer MS Dhoni has taken on the mantle of the game’s brand ambassador and will be introduced as a playable character named ‘Thala.’ Dhoni will be joined by other prominent sports personalities, including football captain Sunil Chhetri, badminton champion Saina Nehwal, tennis legend Leander Paes, and Kabaddi champion Rahul Chaudhari.
Garena has highlighted that the inclusion of MS Dhoni as a playable character is a celebratory recognition of him being the first Indian sports icon to feature in-game as “Thala.”
Mr. Gang Ye, Co-founder of Garena, expressed his perspective on the game’s relaunch, affirming, “India hosts fervent communities of esports enthusiasts, and we are thrilled to extend our support to our fans from Bharat through the launch of Free Fire India.”
Reason Behind Garena Free Fire’s Ban in India
In the previous year, the Indian government took measures to ban several Chinese apps due to concerns surrounding the privacy and security of Indian users. Despite Garena Free Fire’s origin as a creation of a Singapore-based company, it was categorized as a “security threat” and was included in the list of prohibited apps within the country.
The Ministry of Electronics and IT emphasized the significance of the ban, citing the apps’ potential to “pose a threat to the country’s security” and their alleged ability to “obtain various critical permissions” as well as gather sensitive user data.