Garena Free City Pre-Registration Launches in SEA, Middle East, Africa

• Garena Free City opens pre-registration for iOS and Android users
• Sign-ups now live in Southeast Asia, Middle East, and Africa
• Can this GTA-inspired game carve its own path?

Garena Free City, the latest addition to the developer’s extensive lineup, is now open for pre-registration across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Curious about the hype? Think of it as a bold attempt to fill the void for fans craving a certain open-world epic’s next chapter.

Let’s be real: this is Garena’s spin on Grand Theft Auto, slated for release on June 30th. Whether that’s a hit or miss depends on your taste. At first glance, it might seem like a generic GTA mobile knockoff, but look closer, and there’s some spark worth noting.

For starters, the character customization is surprisingly deep, offering Sims-style tweaks to fine-tune every detail. Unlike GTA’s grounded realism, Free City leans into wild flair—think giant robots and power-ups like pop-up cover for battles.

Vivid & Unrestrained

That said, it’s clear Free City borrows heavily from Grand Theft Auto Online’s playbook, which feels like a missed chance to lean into its quirkier side. Those offbeat elements are what grab you most.

Timing might not be on Garena’s side, though. Ananta, a major upcoming title, is also banking on a sprawling world and wild sidequests, but it’s pushing boundaries further. Free City risks blending into the crowd.

Ananta’s anime vibe might not click for everyone, but it’s carving its own niche. My main gripe with Free City? It doesn’t fully embrace its potential to stand out.

Want to stay in the loop on new releases? Check out Catherine’s weekly column, Ahead of the Game, for the latest titles you can jump into now.