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

Garena Free City, the latest addition to the developer's extensive lineup, is now open for pre-registration on iOS and Android devices across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. If you've been eagerly awaiting the next installment in a certain renowned series, Garena Free City might just be the perfect placeholder.

Let's be straightforward: Garena Free City is essentially Garena's interpretation of Grand Theft Auto, set to launch on June 30th. Whether this is a positive or negative development hinges on your personal taste. At first glance, it might seem like just another mobile clone of GTA, but a closer look reveals some promising aspects.

For starters, the game boasts a comprehensive character customization system, reminiscent of The Sims, allowing for detailed manipulation of individual features. Unlike the more realistic style of GTA, Free City introduces elements like giant robots and summonable power-ups such as deployable cover, adding a unique twist to the gameplay.

Bold & Brash However, it's evident that much of the game is designed to mimic the allure of Grand Theft Auto Online, which is somewhat disappointing because the more unconventional features are quite captivating.

Unfortunately, Garena might have chosen an inopportune moment to release Free City. While I don't believe in the concept of a single killer app within a genre on mobile, Ananta is a highly anticipated game that also promises a vast open world and quirky side quests—elements that Free City also aims to deliver, but perhaps not as effectively.

Ananta distinguishes itself with a unique anime aesthetic, which may deter some players, yet it strives to be different. This is where my primary critique of Free City lies—it doesn't fully embrace its potential to stand out.

If you're keen on staying ahead of the latest game releases, be sure to check out Catherine's regular feature, "Ahead of the Game," to discover upcoming titles you can start playing right now.