“Free Fire” is a popular battle royale game in Brazil

A video game has officially taken over football in Brazil. It is called “Free Fire” and it is a battle royale franchise designed for mobile devices.

In Brazilian favelas where expensive gaming consoles are rare, mobile games have quickly gained traction. With games like “Free Fire”, some teens can even score a ticket for official tournaments which can reward them with up to $20,000.

The craze has also been popularised thanks to esport gamers like Bruno Goes also known as “Nobru”. The 21-year-old has over 13 million followers on Instagram and is reportedly earning up to $500,000 per month from streaming “Free Fire”. Seeing his achievements, many young Brazilians are shifting from football to playing competitive games in the hope of becoming a professional esport player and making a living out of it.

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