# Garena launches Free Fire India after original game's ban

_Published Wednesday, October 28, 2026 at 11:05 AM EDT · Products · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

![Garena launches Free Fire India after original game's ban — Primary](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/free-fire-india.jpg?resize=1200,800)

Garena launched Free Fire India on Android and iOS on Wednesday, introducing a localized standalone version more than four years after India banned the original game over national security concerns. Garena says the release includes parental controls, playtime limits and spending caps, with user data hosted in India.

Free Fire MAX, which was not banned, will remain available. Players can use the same account across both games, play together and join the same events. Garena said it incorporated government feedback, but did not explain what changed to allow the release or why its planned 2023 launch was delayed.

## Sources

- [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/28/free-fire-returns-to-india-as-garena-launches-localized-version-four-years-after-ban/)

---
Canonical: https://techandbusiness.org/newswire/3fzLdPUwOwp4lwU25iOU9h
Published: 2026-10-28T15:05:52.508Z
Story chronology: 2026-10-28T13:39:18.000Z
Retrieved: 2026-10-28T18:12:48.045Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)