Since 2020, India has been adopting very strict measures when it comes to allowing Chinese apps to stand in the local version of the Google Play Store. If you recall, the country banned one of the world’s most popular battle-royale games – PUBG. The developers had to go through multiple changes in order to be accepted by the local rules. Now, however, the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs attacks again. This time around, it’s banning over 54 Chinese applications from the local Google Play Store. As usual, the authority cites some national security concerns. One of the most popular apps on the list, if not the most popular, is Garena’s Free Fire. It’s another of the world’s most popular mobile games and was even awarded as the best game of Google Play in 2021. The irony? It’s not a Chinese game.
The odd fact in the decision for banning Garena’s Free Fire is that the game originates from Singapore. Obviously, the case involves the growing tensions between India and China involving a border conflict. After the move, Sea’s stock sank around 19 percent in New York, which is the steepest decline on record. The apps banned by India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology include those belonging to large China companies such as Tencent, Alibaba, and NetEase. The re-branded versions of apps already banned by India in 2020, were banned again. The info comes from people who asked Bloomberg to not be identified.
Below you can see a list of the apps that have been banned from India. Starting today, Indian Android users won’t be able to download them through Google Play Store. Perhaps, sideloading these apps is still an option.
Gizchina News of the week
Games banned from India
- Beauty Camera: Sweet Selfie HD
- Beauty Camera – Selfie Camera
- Equalizer – Bass Booster & Volume EQ & Virtualizer
- Music Player- Music.Mp3 Player
- Equalizer & Bass Booster – Music Volume EQ
- Music Plus – MP3 Player
- Equalizer Pro – Volume Booster & Bass Booster
- Video Player Media All Format
- Music Player – Equalizer & MP3
- Volume Booster – Loud Speaker & Sound Booster
- Music Player – MP3 Player
- CamCard for SalesForce Ent
- Isoland 2: Ashes of Time Lite
- Rise of Kingdoms: Lost Crusade
- IS/APUS Security HD (Pad Version)
- Parallel Space Lite 32 Support
- Viva Video Editor – Snack Video Maker with Music
- Nice video Baidu
- Tencent Xriver
- Onmyoji Chess
- Onmyoji Arena
- AppLock
- Dual Space Lite – All versions
- Conquer Online – MMORPG Game
- Conquer Online Il
- Live Weather & Radar – Alerts
- Notes- Color Notepad, Notebook
- MP3 Cutter – Ringtone Maker & Audio Cutter
- Voice Recorder & Voice Changer
- Barcode Scanner – QR Code Scan
- Lica Cam – selfie camera app
- EVE Echoes
- Astracraft
- UU Game Booster-network solution for high ping
- Extraordinary Ones
- Badlanders
- Stick Fight: The Game Mobile
- Twilight Pioneers
- CuteU: Match With The World
- Small World-Enjoy groupchat and video chat
- CuteU Pro
- FancvU – Video Chat & Meetup
- Real: Go Live. Make Friends
- MoonChat: Enjoy Video Chats
- Real Lite -video to live!
- Wink: Connect Now
- FunChat Meet People Around You
- FancyU pro – Instant Meetup through Video chat!
- Garena Free Fire – Illuminate
For now, there is no word if app developers will react in some form. However, this probably won’t be a workaround for every app or game. If you recall, the decision usually forces developers to shut down servers. Recently, the Indian government even started to ban importing from certain Chinese products.
