Following the Indian government’s orders, several Chinese apps—including Garena Free Fire—were removed from the country. However, Free Fire MAX continues to remain available on the Google Play Store. This has raised an important question among players: Which country does Free Fire MAX belong to, and why was it not banned? In this article, you will find complete and clear information about the game.
When Garena Free Fire MAX was launched in September 2021, it did not receive much attention, as most players were still focused on the original Garena Free Fire. But after Free Fire was banned in India, many users began shifting to Free Fire MAX. Before downloading and playing the game, it is important to understand its background and origin.
Free Fire MAX Belongs to Which Country?
Free Fire MAX is developed and published by Garena, a gaming company operating under its parent firm Sea Limited. Sea Limited is headquartered in Singapore and officially released Free Fire MAX on 28 September 2021.
Since the game is owned by a Singapore-based company and not a Chinese firm, it was not included in the list of apps banned by the Government of India. This is the main reason why Free Fire MAX is still available for Indian users on the Google Play Store, where it can be downloaded and played for free.
Who Owns Free Fire MAX?
Many Free Fire fans are curious to know who created and owns the game. Garena was founded in 2009 by Forrest Li, a well-known entrepreneur from Singapore. Garena operates under Sea Limited, which also owns Shopee, one of the world’s largest e-commerce platforms.
Forrest Li is currently a billionaire and a major figure in the global tech and gaming industry. However, some concerns arise because Tencent, a Chinese company, owns a minority stake in Sea Limited. This shareholding often leads to confusion and concern regarding data privacy and government regulations.
Why Was Garena Free Fire Banned in India?
On February 14, the Government of India added Garena Free Fire to its list of banned apps. The primary reason behind this decision was national security and data privacy concerns.
According to government sources, some apps were allegedly collecting sensitive user data such as microphone access, camera permissions, GPS location, and other personal information. Since Tencent— a Chinese company—holds more than 18% stake in Sea Limited, the government feared that user data could be misused or transferred outside India.
To ensure the safety and privacy of Indian citizens, the government decided to ban Garena Free Fire, similar to earlier actions taken against PUBG and other apps.
Free Fire MAX Removed for iPhone Users
As per reports, Free Fire MAX was removed from the Apple App Store on February 12, raising further concerns among players. This move suggested that the government was still reviewing the game’s data and privacy policies.
Even though Free Fire MAX is owned by a Singapore-based company, the presence of Tencent as a shareholder remains a concern. To avoid any potential risk to user privacy, the game was removed from the App Store for iOS users. As a result, its future availability on iPhones in India remains uncertain.
Our Opinion: Is Free Fire MAX Safe to Play?
Based on current information, Free Fire MAX is safe to play on Android devices in India. However, if you are highly concerned about data privacy and security, it may be wise to wait for a clear and final decision from the government.
Supporting government guidelines and choosing games that fully comply with Indian data protection norms is always a safer option. Until official clarification is provided, players should stay informed and cautious.
