New Delhi: Free Fire is officially back in India. After a three-year absence, Garena’s battle royale shooter has returned with a bang, announcing a mega esports tournament, the Free Fire MAX India Cup 2025. The prize pool? A massive ₹1 crore. The tournament kicks off on July 13 and will run till September 28, making it Free Fire’s first big competitive push in India since the ban.

This announcement has sparked a wave of chatter in the Indian gaming community. With India leading globally in mobile game downloads, 8.45 billion in FY 2024–25 according to Sensor Tower, the return of a low-spec, widely played game like Free Fire is expected to open up competition again in tier 2 and tier 3 cities.

 

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Return of the low-spec king

Free Fire has long been a fan-favourite in India’s smaller towns, mostly because it runs smoothly on budget phones. That kind of accessibility made it one of the most played games before the ban. With its re-entry, that same audience now has a chance to compete in a structured esports format.

“The return of Free Fire is a watershed for mobile esports in India,” said Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming. “India’s gaming market thrives on accessibility, and Free Fire’s ability to run smoothly across a broad spectrum of devices makes it especially relevant for gamers nationwide.”

The timing couldn’t be more interesting. BGMI has been dominating the scene ever since Free Fire went offline. But now, with Free Fire back, a real rivalry could shape up in the battle royale space.

Esports orgs ready to switch gears

Animesh Agarwal, Co-founder and CEO of S8UL, believes the game still holds strong emotional value for its audience. “It is a positive sign for the entire gaming landscape. Free Fire has always connected deeply with the mobile-first audience in India, and its comeback will undoubtedly spark new energy in the competitive scene,” he said.

He also pointed out that S8UL is keeping a close watch and preparing to re-enter the Free Fire space with full force. The team is already set to become the first Indian esports organisation to compete at the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh from July 8 to August 24.

What happens next?

With the Free Fire MAX India Cup acting as the kickoff point, all eyes will now be on how the game scales its comeback. More tournaments, more creators, and new players entering the space could mean serious shakeups in India’s gaming pecking order.