Garena Taps Tez Platforms for Free Fire MAX India Cup Comeback

Singapore-based game developer Garena has partnered with Hiranandani Group’s Tez Platforms to stage the Free Fire MAX India Cup 2025, marking the publisher’s first esports event in the country since the Indian government banned the original Free Fire title in 2022 on security grounds. The multi-stage tournament will run from 13 July to 28 September and features open qualifiers aimed at reviving the game’s competitive ecosystem. Garena is committing a Rs 1 crore prize pool to the event, with top teams expected to earn individual payouts of Rs 10–20 lakh. Industry executives say the move should re-energise a mobile-first esports scene that lost significant grassroots traction after the ban. Tez Platforms will provide local technological and operational support, while Garena builds out a broader tournament calendar for colleges, community leagues and national championships. Consultancy estimates put India’s esports and casual gaming revenue at Rs 5,300 crore in 2024, with annual growth projected at 16 percent through 2027. Analysts expect Garena’s return to accelerate that expansion by boosting sponsorship, streaming hours and player participation, particularly in smaller cities where Free Fire had established a sizable fan base before its hiatus.