Free Fire Max Esports Officially Returns With Max India Cup 2025

• Garena announces FFMIC 2025, reviving Free Fire Max esports in India after a 3-year government ban.

• Open tournament spans July to September, with registration starting July 7 for all Indian players.

• Signals a major comeback for one of India’s most popular mobile esports titles pre-ban.

Gaming company Garena officially announced the Free Fire Max India Cup (FFMIC) 2025 on Friday, marking the return of competitive Free Fire Max esports to India after more than three years following a government ban that disrupted the country's burgeoning mobile gaming ecosystem.

The open tournament will allow all Free Fire Max players across India to participate, with registrations opening 7th July and competition spanning two months through late September. The announcement signals a major revival for competitive gaming in India, where Free Fire had built a massive following before regulatory challenges forced its withdrawal.

The tournament schedule includes in-game qualifiers starting 13th July, online qualifiers from 26th July to 3rd August, league stages from 22nd August to 14th September, and grand finals on 27th and 28th September, according to the announcement. The comprehensive format aims to provide opportunities for both established professional teams and emerging talent to compete on a national stage.

The grand finals will be held as an offline LAN event featuring the top 12 teams competing for a prize pool that could reach INR 1 Crore ($116,500), according to esports publication Sportstiger. The substantial prize money reflects the tournament's significance in reviving India's competitive mobile gaming scene.

This marks Garena's first official esports event in India since the original Free Fire game was banned in February 2022 over data privacy concerns, along with several other Chinese-owned applications. The ban significantly impacted India's mobile esports landscape, where Free Fire had emerged as one of the most popular battle royale games.

The Free Fire Max version remained available on Google Play Store throughout the ban period, maintaining a player base that enabled the competitive scene's eventual return. Industry observers view this as a strategic move that allowed Garena to preserve its Indian market presence.

Several major Indian esports organizations have confirmed participation, including GodLike Esports, which announced a new Free Fire Max roster by acquiring the former Autobotz Esports team. The participation of established organizations suggests confidence in the tournament's legitimacy and potential for long-term growth.

Matches will be livestreamed on the official Free Fire India Esports YouTube channel, ensuring nationwide accessibility for fans who have awaited the game's competitive return.

Garena has increased its India activities recently, hosting an invite-only creator tournament in March and the Free Fire Max Booyah Awards in Kolkata in June, indicating a gradual rebuild of its Indian operations.

The tournament represents a significant revival for India's esports scene, which has grown rapidly in recent years as mobile gaming adoption surged across the country's diverse demographics.

India's mobile gaming market has expanded dramatically, with industry estimates suggesting over 400 million mobile gamers nationwide, making it a crucial market for global gaming companies seeking growth opportunities.