Gaming
Gaming platform A23 becomes associate title sponsor of PVL 2022
Mumbai: Online gaming platform A23 has announced that it will be the associate title sponsor for the forthcoming Rupay Prime Volleyball League (PVL) 2022, amping up the excitement quotient for one of the fast-growing franchise-led sporting leagues in the country. This year, PVL will be broadcasted live on Sony Six and Sony Ten 3 with live streaming on SPNI’s OTT platform Sony LIV.
PVL returns after a two-year break and A23, as an official title sponsor of the games, intends to support and encourage a team sport like volleyball to the forefront and connect the nation with a common spirit. A23 also hopes to build and enhance its reputation as the most preferred online gaming platform for users with a passion for serious online gaming. “This association will offer A23 access to key PVL players from the league, television spots and strategic in-stadia branding, showcasing the brand as a professional responsible gaming platform for gamers to harness their skills in becoming a champion of the game,” said the statement.
“It is a privilege for the Prime Volleyball League to be powered by a leading online gaming platform like A23. It is great to see that A23 has taken keen interest and invested in a sport that is fast-paced, exciting and perfectly matched for our young and dynamic nation,” said Baseline Ventures MD Tuhin Mishra, on behalf of the PVL. “Volleyball and online gaming have made significant strides in recent years and we hope such partnerships continue to mutually benefit each other.”
Beginning on 5 February, the league will be held in Hyderabad and will feature seven franchises from seven different cities ― Calicut Heroes, Kochi Blue Spikers, Ahmedabad Defenders, Hyderabad Black Hawks, Chennai Blitz, Bengaluru Torpedoes, and Kolkata Thunderbolts. The grand finale of the league will be held on 27 February, culminating in three weeks of high voltage, competitive and exciting action.
“The collaboration with Prime Volleyball League comes at a perfect time for us in our attempt to build further on our already existing brand as a market leader in the gaming space,” stated Head Digital Works founder and CEO Deepak Gullapalli. “I hope the road ahead promises exciting propositions for our A23 users as Volleyball will give us a chance to support the sport in the years to come, and in turn, gain substantial traction for our brand.”
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.
