The launch of Free Fire India has been postponed primarily due to the need for refining the gameplay and completing full localization of the Free Fire experience specifically for the Indian market. The company Garena, which owns the game, has not provided a specific new launch date and has kept the game on hold since the initial planned release in September 2023. Additional factors cited for the delay include:
- The requirement to set up servers within India to ensure data privacy and compliance with Indian regulations.
- The Indian government had banned Free Fire in 2022 along with many other apps, citing security concerns under Section 69A of the IT Act.
- Garena has shifted some focus towards promoting another version called Free Fire Max in India.
- Garena also shut down one of its Indian game studios, which may have impacted the relaunch plans.
- Localization efforts include adding features such as OTP verification, gameplay restrictions, and parental controls tailored for the Indian audience.
Despite the postponement of Free Fire India, Garena has been organizing esports events in India for Free Fire Max, signaling ongoing engagement with the Indian gaming community. Overall, the delay appears to stem from security, compliance, localization, and operational reasons rather than a cancellation, with no official launch date announced yet.
