Gaming
ASUS unveils ROG Academy Season 10 to empower esports stars in CS:2
Mumbai: ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) has announced the launch of the highly anticipated Season 10 of the ROG Academy to nurture India’s top talents in Counter Strike 2 (CS2) and offer them a platform to excel.
ROG Academy is the longest-running esports incubator program designed to help aspiring esports professionals succeed by providing the resources, infrastructure, and expertise needed to turn their passion into a career. The program features a detailed curriculum created by industry experts that covers essential areas like communication, individual skills, and teamwork.
Registration for Season 10 has begun. After this, shortlisted candidates will undergo tryouts, which include in-game assessments, expert interviews, and psychometric tests. Six chosen players will join the program, where they will sign contracts with the ROG Team and receive a monthly stipend, compensation for internet bills, and high-end ROG gear for remote practice.
Players will receive intensive training from a dedicated coach, focusing on game mechanics, teamwork, and competitive play. Upon successful completion, they will be awarded a Certificate of Completion and an ex-gratia payment of Rs 1 lakh.
The ROG Academy also hosts guest sessions on an array of topics. Some of these have been sports psychology, PR, and esports management during the previous seasons. Additionally, players will gain competitive experience through tournament participation, enhancing their exposure and opportunities in the gaming community.
Expressing his excitement ahead of the new season, ASUS India vice president, consumer and gaming pc, system business group Arnold Su said, “ASUS ROG Academy has consistently been at the forefront of nurturing esports talent in India. Our extensive training program, combined with industry expertise and competitive opportunities, has effectively prepared participants for successful careers in esports over nine consecutive seasons across various titles. We are delighted to continue this tradition with Season 10, providing a robust platform for aspiring gamers to refine their skills in Counter Strike 2. As esports continues to grow in India and make its way into the Olympics, we eagerly anticipate witnessing the next generation of esports professionals emerge from this initiative in the future.”
Since its launch, ASUS ROG Academy has garnered over 15,000 registrations and trained 54 players across nine seasons. Over 15 of these players have secured positions with top-tier organisations. Last season, the academy’s players competed in 21 tournaments, including the Dust2 India – 1xBet Cup Open Qualifier, Sky Championship India Qualifier, and ESL Challenger Jonkoping – Asia Qualifier, achieving quarterfinal and semifinal placements in several events.
Additionally, talents like Gourav “Rayzer” Panwar and Anirudh “ChAmP” Aurange secured placements in the prominent team Victores Sumus (formerly 2EZ Gaming). The season also included insightful guest sessions from Dr Michelle Pain, a sports psychologist with Global Esports, and Peter “casle” Ardenskjold, coach of Gaimin Gladiators, who shared valuable expertise on mental fitness, gameplay enhancement, and communication.
As ASUS ROG Academy continues to pave the way for the future of esports in India, aspiring gamers are encouraged to register for Season 10 and take the first step towards a professional esports career.
Interested candidates can register at: https://asus.in/ROG-academy/
Gaming
Bluestone FY26 revenue rises to Rs 2,436 crore, turns profitable
Q4 profit at Rs 31 crore, full-year profit at Rs 13 crore vs loss last year.
MUMBAI: From sparkle to numbers, Bluestone seems to be polishing more than just jewellery this year. Bluestone Jewellery and Lifestyle Limited reported a sharp turnaround in FY26, with revenue from operations rising to Rs 2,436 crore (Rs 24,364 million), up from Rs 1,770 crore (Rs 17,700 million) in FY25. The company posted a full-year profit of Rs 13 crore (Rs 131.79 million), a significant recovery from a loss of Rs 222 crore (Rs 2,218 million) a year ago.
Total income for the year stood at Rs 2,486 crore (Rs 24,860 million), compared to Rs 1,830 crore (Rs 18,300 million) in the previous year, reflecting both topline growth and improved operational momentum.
The March quarter, however, told a more nuanced story. Revenue from operations came in at Rs 681 crore (Rs 6,814 million), down from Rs 748 crore (Rs 7,486 million) in the year-ago period, though higher than Rs 461 crore (Rs 4,613 million) in the preceding December quarter. Net profit for Q4 stood at Rs 31 crore (Rs 311.81 million), compared to Rs 68 crore (Rs 688 million) a year earlier, but a clear reversal from a loss of Rs 51 crore (Rs 512 million) in Q3.
Margins were shaped by higher input costs, with raw material consumption rising to Rs 2,204 crore (Rs 22,043 million) for the full year, alongside employee benefit expenses of Rs 282 crore (Rs 2,824 million) and finance costs of Rs 210 crore (Rs 2,104 million). Other expenses came in at Rs 371 crore (Rs 3,715 million), slightly lower than Rs 393 crore (Rs 3,938 million) in FY25.
On the balance sheet front, total assets expanded to Rs 4,961 crore (Rs 49,610 million) as of March 31, 2026, from Rs 3,532 crore (Rs 35,322 million) a year earlier, driven largely by a surge in inventories to Rs 2,672 crore (Rs 26,718 million). Equity also strengthened to Rs 1,803 crore (Rs 18,030 million), nearly doubling from Rs 911 crore (Rs 9,107 million).
Cash flows reflected the cost of growth. Net cash used in operating activities stood at Rs 199 crore (Rs 1,990 million), while investing activities saw an outflow of Rs 239 crore (Rs 2,392 million). Financing activities, however, generated Rs 497 crore (Rs 4,971 million), helping the company end the year with cash and cash equivalents of Rs 108 crore (Rs 1,075 million), up from Rs 49 crore (Rs 487 million).
Earnings per share for FY26 came in at Rs 1.10, a sharp improvement from a negative Rs 79.74 in FY25, underlining the shift from losses to profitability.
With revenue scaling up, costs still glittering on the higher side, and profitability finally back in the black, BlueStone’s FY26 performance suggests a business mid-transition less about shine alone, and more about sustaining it.
