Game on again: Indian esports arena gets bigger as Garena unleashes Free Fire Max Cup

Garena Free Fire Max

It wasn't an easy road for gamer Abhishek Bisht when the 2022 India ban on Free Fire left a void in his gaming journey but he says Garena's return to India’s esports scene through Free Fire Max India Cup 2025 reignites the competitive fire within him.

He is all set to reload the game through casting, content creation, or simply supporting the community. "I see this as a fresh start ---not just for myself, but for every player and creator who stayed connected to Free Fire MAX when things were uncertain. This is our moment to shine again," he told Moneycontrol.

Free Fire Max India Cup 2025 for which the matches will run from July 13 to September 28, marks online game developer Garena's first esports event in the country since the Free Fire ban due to security concerns. While the original game remains inaccessible, the Free Fire Max version — which offers enhanced visuals and smoother gameplay — will serve as the platform for the new tournament.

"For me, the announcement of the India Cup 2025 is not just the launch of a tournament, it’s the revival of Garena in competitive esports," Bisht said.

He added that the tournament means a lot to him because he has seen the community holding on through tough times, staying loyal to the game, and waiting for an opportunity like this. "The tournament gives us back that competitive stage, that adrenaline rush, and those career-defining moments we have all been missing."

Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and Managing Director of Nodwin Gaming calls the tournament's launch a watershed moment for India's esports landscape. "Following Free Fire’s ban in 2022, the absence of the publisher’s (Garena) competitive circuit left a significant gap in grassroots mobile esports, particularly in smaller cities where its titles had established deep roots. Its comeback, featuring a Rs 1 crore prize pool and a multi-stage format with open qualifiers, signals a fully structured and accessible revival."

Big prize pool

Tournament prize pools are one of the biggest revenue drivers for esports players and with the upcoming tournament offering a Rs 1 crore prize pool, top-tier teams could walk away with payouts of Rs 10–20 lakh, noted Rohit Agarwal, Founder and Director, AlphaZegus, a marketing agency.

He added that top Indian players can earn anywhere between Rs 3–10 lakh per month when combining tournament winnings, brand partnerships, content revenue, and team contracts.

Rathee pointed out that the return will drive a substantial increase in esports revenue, player participation, and viewership, much of which remained engaged but inactive during the hiatus.

Bisht said that even after the original version of Free Fire was banned, he had Free Fire MAX which helped him stay connected with the game— by playing, creating content. "But the missing link was the official esports circuit, major events, and brand collaborations," he added.

Agarwal noted that Indian creators monetizing Free Fire Max through streaming on YouTube or Facebook can earn Rs 40,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh per month via ads, subscriptions, and live donations- and that’s before factoring in brand integrations.

"Sponsorship deals, especially for creators with over 200,000 followers, can command Rs 2–10 lakh per campaign, particularly in segments like smartphones, energy drinks, and fashion. Additionally, players who are part of pro esports teams often receive monthly retainers ranging from Rs 40,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh- providing financial stability between tournaments," he added.

More tournaments

With the Free Fire MAX India Cup 2025 announced, Animesh Agarwal aka 8Bit Thug, Co-founder and CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of S8UL, an esports and gaming content company sees a strong potential for a broader competitive calendar, including publisher-led tournaments, community leagues, and grassroots events. "This will naturally attract new talent and revive dormant rosters."

"Now, Garena is actively working to rebuild a proper tournament structure from grassroots to national championships. The Free Fire MAX Esports team is already working at the community level. They are organizing tournaments in colleges, universities, and institutes across India, directly engaging with young players and giving fresh talent a chance to step into esports. It is not just about a few big tournaments anymore; it is the revival of a full, structured competitive ecosystem for Free Fire MAX esports in India," Bisht said.

The India Cup is also bringing back open qualifiers, national championships, and professional leagues, which are crucial for the competitive community. "With a full tournament roadmap like the India Cup, players now have structured formats to go pro, earn prize money, and grow their fanbase," Rathee said.

He expects a significant increase in the number of esports tournaments in India from community-level scrims and cups to publisher-backed leagues. "With a broader player base reactivated and new players joining in, the overall player pool will grow. It also introduces more choices for brands and tournament organizers looking to support competitive formats."

India's esports market

Esports and casual gaming revenue in 2024 stood at Rs 5,300 crore, according to FICCI-EY 2025 report which expects the esports and casual sub-segment to grow at a 16 percent CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate). The share of esports and casual gaming in total online gaming revenues is also expected to rise to 26 percent by 2027, up from 19 percent in 2022.

Esports is projected to grow by 13 percent on the back of higher prize money and aided by many factors including the return of Free Fire tournaments, the report said.

Total participation in esports tournaments exceeded 2 million last year.

Airtime and viewership continued to grow across all competitive level games to 7,400 broadcast hours last year from 6,500 in 2023 which is estimated to increase to 9,000 broadcast hours this year.

Impact of the ban

Recalling the impact of the ban on Free Fire, Bisht said that the pause and the shift to other games was both financially and mentally draining.

His 6-8 hour routine of playing Free Fire, streaming, and creating content around it wasn’t just a game for Bisht but it was his profession, creative space, and a major source of income.

"That period was challenging. I continued creating content, but I wasn’t enjoying it the way I used to. My followers had started declining, my engagement dropped, and somewhere along the line, I lost that spark," he said.

He explored other games from BGMI and other mobile titles to PC games but nothing replicated the vibe, the energy, or the connection he had with Free Fire. "Even my audience didn’t respond to those games the same way they did for Free Fire."

While he stayed connected with his audience through Free Fire MAX, the absence of official tournaments meant fewer events to cast, fewer content opportunities, and a drop in audience engagement.

But Bisht held onto one hope that Garena would not abandon such a massive Indian market.