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The Indian mobile gaming industry has changed a lot after strict government rules. Two popular games were affected the most - Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) and Free Fire India.
Both games were banned under Section 69A of the IT Act because of data security concerns. But in 2026, the situation is very different. BGMI is popular again, while Free Fire India has still not launched.
Let’s understand why.
How BGMI Returned So Successfully
When BGMI was banned in July 2022, its publisher Krafton acted very quickly. They knew India was an important market.
Krafton did the following things:
- Moved player data to Indian servers
- Stopped all data sharing linked to China
- Added time limits and safety controls for players
- Stayed in regular contact with Indian authorities
Because of this, BGMI was allowed a trial return in May 2023. Krafton followed all rules during this period. This helped BGMI make a permanent comeback.
BGMI’s return shows that if a company follows Indian laws properly, bans can be removed.
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Also Read: BGIS 2026 Round 4 Day 2 Teams, Groups, Schedule & Live Stream Details
Free Fire India: Big Announcement, Then Silence
The story of Free Fire India is very different. After the ban in February 2022, Garena stayed quiet for a long time.
In August 2023, Garena suddenly announced Free Fire India with a launch date of September 5. Fans were excited. The company promised Indian servers and special features.
But just before launch, the game was delayed.
After that, Garena stopped giving updates.
There have been:
- No new launch dates
- No official statements
- No teasers or progress reports
A long delay with no communication usually means serious problems behind the scenes.
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The Main Reason: Free Fire MAX Is Already Running
The biggest reason behind the delay is Free Fire MAX.
This version was not banned and is still available in India. Garena earns money from it and runs esports tournaments using this version.
In 2026, Garena is investing heavily in Free Fire MAX tournaments and Indian esports teams. Everything is happening through MAX, not Free Fire India.
If Free Fire India was ready to launch soon, Garena would not focus so much on MAX.
The Real Difference Between BGMI and Free Fire
The main difference is strategy.
- Krafton needed BGMI to return, so they followed every rule carefully
- Garena already has Free Fire MAX, so they are not in a hurry
BGMI had no backup. Free Fire did.
Final Conclusion
BGMI came back because Krafton acted fast, followed Indian laws, and stayed transparent. Free Fire India is still delayed because Garena already has a working alternative.
Also Read: BGMI 5th Anniversary Date, Free Rewards, Events & Updates 2026
