3 Reasons Why Free Fire India Launch Got Delayed
Free Fire fans in India will have to wait just a little longer for the game’s re-release in the country as Garena delays the launch. The Singapore based game developer and publisher announced that it would be delaying the battle royale game by a “few more weeks.” Before the delay, the game was initially slated to be released on 5th September 2023.
Garena Free Fire was one of the top battle royale games in India, until it was banned by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in February 2022. The game was among the 50 Chinese-linked apps to be banned due to national security issues. Now, one and a half years after the ban, Free Fire India was set to make a big comeback with new and improve gameplay. So, what could be the reason for a delay in the game’s launch? Let’s take a look:
Why did Free Fire India launch get delayed?
- Refining Gameplay
Given that Free Fire will be returning to its Indian player-base after one and a half years, Garena wanted to leave no stoned unturned. The game developers are working tirelessly to fine tune the gameplay so that players get the best experience possible. This launch is a big deal for the company as it fights to get their game back to the top of the video game charts in India.
- To Complete Localisation
Not only is the game being re-launched but its also coming back with a gaming experience tailored to its Indian player-base. That is why, the Singapore based gaming company needs a little bit more time to fully complete their localisation of the game. This also means that Indian players will be treated to a game suited perfectly to their taste with unique and added features.
- Taking Good Measures for User Security
As you know, the popular battle royale game was banned in India due to concerns with user safety. So, it is possible that the game developers wanted a bit more time to double check and make sure that user data in the game was secure and wouldn’t be breached. Previously, Garena had announced in a press release that Free Fire India will ‘incorporate unique content and features to encourage a safe, healthy and fun gameplay experience.’
Yotta, a Hiranandani Group company will be providing the local cloud hosting and storage infrastructure for the game. There will also be features like verification system for parental supervision, gameplay limitations, and ‘take a break’ reminders.
Another exciting this for players to look forward to is that the gaming giant has also announced that MS Dhoni has partnered with them as the game’s brand ambassador. With this collaboration, MS Dhoni will now be available as a playable character in the game called ‘Thala.’
According to reports before the February 2022 ban, of the 75 million global monthly active uses of the game, 40 million were from India alone. For Garena, re-launching its popular game in the country with added features catered to the Indian audience is their attempt to regain their lost user base. Thus, it makes sense why the company is making sure everything is perfect before making it available.
