By Meghna Sharma No, Free Fire is not a Chinese app. It is a free-to-play battle royale mobile game developed by 111dots Studio, a Vietnamese game developer, and published by Garena, the digital entertainment arm of Sea Limited, a tech conglomerate based in Singapore. However, Tencent Holdings, a Chinese company, holds minority stakes in Sea Limited. Free Fire’s gameplay features up to 52 players in solos, duos or squads of four who are required to fight each other in 10-minute matches. It offers 15 game modes with 6 maps to choose from. Free Fire is available for download on both Android and iOS devices.
| Details | Info |
| Founded | 2017 |
| Founder | 111dots Studio, Garena |
| Headquarters | Singapore |
| CEO | Forrest Li |
| Sector | Mobile gaming |
App History
Free Fire was developed by Vietnamese indie game developer, 111dots Studio, and published by Singapore-based Garena. The game was officially launched globally on 8th December 2017 for both Android and iOS platforms. By the year 2018, Free Fire had reached 182 million downloads and become the world’s fourth most downloaded mobile game. Free Fire became the most downloaded mobile game globally in the year 2019.
Free Fire launched the Free Fire World Series esports competition in 2019. By the year 2021, Free Fire had over 150 million active users and surpassed $1 billion in lifetime revenue. Free Fire World Series in 2021 set a record for the most-watched esports event in the world with 5.4 million peak live viewers.
Free Fire achieved the milestone of over 1 billion downloads on Google Play Store in the year 2021. In September 2021, Garena launched Free Fire Max, an enhanced version featuring improved graphics, sound effects and lighting.
Current Status
Free Fire remains a top mobile battle royale game, with 110-130 million monthly active users and 28-35 million daily active users. It is available globally on both Android and iOS devices. Free Fire remains banned in India since February 2022. However its version, Free Fire Max, is available for download in India.
Free Fire was the third most downloaded mobile game globally in October 2025. Its engagement is particularly high in Brazil, Southeast Asia, Middle East and Mexico.
Future Outlook
Free Fire’s future outlook is expected to be bright, powered by high player engagement, steady revenue and expansion strategies. Garena is likely to bring in more localised events and introduce more modes to sustain accessibility on low-end devices. Free Fire World Series delivered 14 events in 2025 and is likely to increase this number in 2026.