Gaming
Game on ASEAN as Johor hosts 2000 plus at digital content summit
MUMBAI: Johor Bahru turned into a playground for pixels, panels, and pavilions today as the ASEAN Digital Content Summit 2025 (ADCS 2025) opened its doors at Persada Johor International Convention Centre. Organised by Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2025, the summit aims to power up cross-border collaboration in animation, gaming, and creative technology bringing ASEAN’s creative industries onto the global stage.
The summit was officially inaugurated by YAB Dato’ Onn Hafiz Ghazi, Menteri Besar Johor, and YB Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong, deputy minister of Digital Malaysia, signalling Malaysia’s intent to position ASEAN as a hub of innovation and storytelling. With over 2,000 attendees, more than 10 country pavilions including Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Cambodia, and Vietnam 50 visionary speakers, and over 100 exhibitors, ADCS 2025 is less a conference and more a carnival of creativity.
Highlights include the ASEAN Roundtable on Digital Content Collaboration, which explores AI-driven innovation and shared policy frameworks; Kre8tif! Business Xchange, ASEAN’s flagship B2B platform linking creators to global investors; and appearances from icons such as Koji Morimoto, co-founder of Japan’s famed Studio 4°C. Public showcases such as the Malaysia Animation Film Festival (MAFF) and Asia Creators Fest (ACF) pavilion round off the festival feel.
“The ASEAN region is home to a vibrant pool of talent in animation, game, and digital content. ADCS 2025 allows us to move beyond servicing into creating original intellectual property that can compete globally,” said YB Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong, underscoring Malaysia’s MADANI government’s push to empower the next generation of creators.
The summit also set the stage for Malaysia’s upcoming global moment hosting Siggraph Asia 2026, one of the world’s largest computer graphics conferences, expected to attract 3,000 professionals from Asia, the US, and Europe. Supported by the Johor State Government, TM, SME Corp Malaysia, Unisza, Asia Creators Fest, KL Chapter ACM Siggraph, Malaysia Esports Federation, and Rewardinme with media backing from RTM, Animationxpress, Gofluence, and more ADCS 2025 isn’t just a summit; it’s ASEAN’s creative coming-of-age story.LE
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.
