Free Fire Unban Date and Time in India (2023): Latest Updates and Announcements
Is Free Fire getting relaunched in India? The Indian gaming community has been eagerly waiting for updates on the relaunch of Free Fire, as the game remains banned after being removed from Google Play Store and Apple App Store back in February 2022. Despite Free Fire MAX being available for Android players, anticipation for the unban of Free Fire continues to grow, especially with the return of BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India) in the picture. Here’s a comprehensive report on the Free Fire unban date and time in India, including the latest key updates and announcements.
Background of the Free Fire Ban in India
Free Fire, an immensely popular online multiplayer shooting game, was banned by the Government of India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in February 2022. The ban targeted a total of 54 applications, mostly of Chinese origin, for posing threats to the nation’s “privacy and security.” Interestingly, Free Fire MAX remained unbanned and accessible for Android users in India.
Garena, the publisher and developer of Free Fire, has since shifted its focus on Free Fire MAX in the Indian market, as the latter continues to attract a massive user base.
Reasons Behind the Ban
The ban on Free Fire in India was imposed by the Indian government as part of a larger crackdown on apps considered a threat to the nation’s privacy and security. The major reason was attributed to data privacy concerns that originated from the app being developed by a company based in Singapore, but believed to have strong ties with China.
The Government of Uttar Pradesh and Garena, a leading global games company, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today as part of a strategic partnership to position Uttar Pradesh on the frontlines of e-sports, by using Yotta’s local data center infrastructure. pic.twitter.com/PUDOQL0OT3
— Uttar Pradesh Sports (@UPGovtSports) July 28, 2023
Recent Official Updates and Announcements
Free Fire’s publisher and developer, Garena, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Uttar Pradesh. The purpose of the signing was to promote and develop esports in the Indian state. Although the MOU is unrelated to the Free Fire unban, it has given a ray of hope regarding the return of the game to India.
Garena has officially announced September 5, 2023, as the Free Fire unban date in India. However, on September 4, the devs confirmed that the re-launch date had been postponed by a few more weeks. As of now, Garena has yet to confirm the unban date for the game.
The developers have confirmed that the game will be titled Free Fire India, and pre-registrations have already begun on Google Play Store. The game has been published under Garena International III, unlike Free Fire and Free Fire MAX (published by Garena International I).
Expected Changes After Unban
The announcement trailer for Free Fire India has confirmed legendary Indian athletes like Sunil Chhetri, Leander Paes, Rahul Chaudhari, and Saina Nehwal as brand ambassadors of the game. Furthermore, MS Dhoni has been roped in as the face of Free Fire India, with a character based on him set to appear in the game. The relaunched Free Fire India is expected to retain all key gameplay features of the original Free Fire, with minor tweaks to cater to the Indian market.
Conclusion
Although the Free Fire unban date was initially announced as September 5, 2023, the relaunch has been postponed by a few more weeks, with no confirmed date as of now. Fans must wait for an official announcement from Garena regarding the final unban
