Industry Reacts to Competitive Revival of Free Fire in India
- Sagar Mankar
- Jul 4
- 3 min read
Garena has officially brought Free Fire back into India’s competitive gaming spotlight with the announcement of the Free Fire MAX India Cup 2025, marking its first major esports initiative since the game's suspension in 2022.
The tournament, which kicks off on July 13 and runs through September 28, carries a substantial ₹1 crore prize pool, setting a strong tone for Free Fire’s re-entry into the Indian esports scene.
This return has stirred excitement across the industry, especially among gamers, content creators, and esports organizations who have long waited for a comeback.
India’s mobile gaming ecosystem has only grown stronger in Free Fire’s absence. According to Sensor Tower’s India Mobile Gaming Insights Report, the country recorded 8.45 billion mobile game downloads in FY 2024–25, leading globally. Core titles like Free Fire and Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) continue to dominate, especially among audiences in tier 2 and 3 cities, where low-end device support plays a major role in game accessibility.
This accessibility factor is one of Free Fire’s biggest strengths, as it runs smoothly on devices that many popular games struggle with. Commenting on this, Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and MD of NODWIN Gaming, said, “The return of Free Fire is a watershed moment for mobile esports in India. Its compatibility across a wide range of devices makes it highly relevant to gamers across the country.”
NODWIN Gaming, which also runs flagship events like the Battlegrounds Mobile India Masters Series (BGMS), sees this revival as a sign of healthy competition and opportunity. Rathee added that having multiple strong titles in the ecosystem can lead to better choices for players and open up new sponsorship and audience engagement avenues.
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Animesh Agarwal, CEO and Co-founder of S8UL, echoed this optimism, stating that Free Fire has always resonated with India’s mobile-first user base. “Its comeback will definitely recharge the scene—from official publisher tournaments to grassroots and community-driven events,” he said. S8UL is also preparing for global exposure as the first Indian esports organization to compete in the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh, from July 8 to August 24.
Aside from esports tournaments, creators also stand to benefit from Free Fire’s return. Animesh pointed out that content creators will now have a chance to re-engage with their audience and experiment with new formats, especially as publisher-led campaigns and influencer marketing ramp up.
Meanwhile, developers and gaming infrastructure platforms are also closely observing this move. Mikhail Bhuta, Co-founder of Dirtcube Interactive LLP, noted that Free Fire’s return sends a clear message about the ongoing demand for battle royale titles in India. “With the game’s optimization for low-end phones, millions of new players can enter the competitive scene. This is exactly the kind of boost that inspires more innovation—be it in backend tools, tournament platforms, or content tech,” said Bhuta, whose company recently launched Specter, a new backend platform aimed at advancing India’s gaming infrastructure.
For Garena, the stakes are high. This is not just about bringing a game back online, but about re-establishing a lasting presence in one of the world’s largest mobile gaming markets. The Free Fire MAX India Cup 2025 is a bold step in that direction, offering both a competitive roadmap and a message that the brand is here to stay.
With the tournament just days away, the focus now shifts to how the ecosystem responds. Will Free Fire reclaim its spot alongside BGMI as a dominant force? Will it spark a new generation of Indian esports talent? One thing is certain—Free Fire’s return has reignited the flame in India’s mobile gaming sector, and the next few months will be crucial in shaping its future.
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