The popular battle royale game Free Fire is coming back to India on Tuesday, but its reappearance raises concerns about the reasons for its original prohibition and the protections that would be in place now that it is being brought back.
Due to serious concerns about data security and user privacy, the Indian government banned Free Fire in February of last year. Developer Garena has opted to relaunch the game in India as a mobile app. This shows that Garena understands the importance of catering to the Indian market and addressing the issues that led to its first suspension. The all-encompassing approach to data security is a major factor in Free Fire’s revival. Garena has partnered with Yotta, a service provider that the Reserve Bank of India has approved, to safeguard the private information of Indian customers. Data privacy and adherence to regional standards are two of the primary goals of this collaboration. (Subscribe to our technology newsletter, Today’s Cache, for the day’s most important tech news.)
Free Fire India will also roll out a number of additional safeguards aimed at ensuring players can play in an environment that is both secure and fun. Game time limits, “take a break” prompts, and parental verification systems are all examples.
India’s revival of Free Fire matches the nation’s official acceptance of esports as a legitimate sport. India has enormous potential to succeed on the international esports scene, and Garena’s announcement of the Free Fire India Championship (FFIC) and international competitions staged in Uttar Pradesh demonstrates this.
Free Fire has also made MS Dhoni a playable character in the game, giving him the moniker Thala and making him the brand ambassador. Dhoni made history by being the first Indian athlete to be included in a video game.
