Gaming
What initiatives can fantasy gaming platforms take to promote inclusivity and diversity within their fan communities?
Mumbai: Diversity and inclusion are not merely catchphrases in the vast virtual world of games; they are key factors influencing it. Diversity encompasses a range of human experiences that include gender, colour, culture, and other aspects beyond narratives and characters. Furthermore, by ensuring inclusivity, gaming spaces are made accessible and open to everyone. Thus, the substantial impact of diversity and inclusion on gaming extends to improving game quality and originality while also increasing player pleasure, engagement, and loyalty.
The goal of creating immersive environments that honour diversity becomes increasingly important as we venture deeper into the domain of fantasy games. Thus, in order to develop immersive worlds that embrace diversity and inclusivity as well as enhance both the gaming experience and the lively communities that inhabit these digital domains, exploring initiatives becomes imperative. According to Mordor Intelligence, with a projected size of $32.75 billion in 2024 and a projected growth rate of 13.83% during the forecast period (2024–2029), the fantasy sports market is predicted to reach $62.58 billion by 2029.
Here’s a look at the initiatives that can be undertaken to promote inclusivity and diversity within these virtual worlds-
Know your audience: Finding out who your audience is and what they want is the first step towards promoting diversity and inclusion in the gaming sector. The gaming industry is a complex and dynamic sector that attracts gamers of all ages, genders, races, cultures, talents, tastes, and expectations. You can learn a lot about the requirements, goals, and challenges of your audience by using analytics, feedback, surveys, and research. Equipped with this understanding, you can tailor your games to suit their tastes. Furthermore, you can employ this data as a tool to find and address any biases or gaps in the accessibility, representation, and involvement of your diverse audience.
Engage and retain a diverse workforce: Seeking and retaining a diverse workforce is the second essential step in improving diversity and inclusion in the gaming industry. The majority of professionals in the field today are white, male, and cisgender, which unintentionally limits the range of viewpoints, creativity, and innovation. Thus, prioritizing the hiring and retention of diverse talent allows for access to a wealth of knowledge, perspectives, and experiences from people with different backgrounds, identities, and specializations. This strategic approach not only benefits the sector but also fosters a more welcoming and encouraging workplace where each team member truly feels appreciated and empowered. Achieving this requires creating transparent and fair recruitment, promotion, and remuneration rules, as well as providing important training, mentorship, and networking opportunities for the diverse members of the staff.
Collaborate and co-create: In order to promote diversity and inclusion in the game industry, co-creation and cooperation are the third and most important stages. Understanding how the gaming industry interacts with other industries, communities, and sectors is essential given how interconnected the industry is. Through proactive involvement with various stakeholders, including academics, media, civil society, and government, one can effectively leverage a wide array of resources, knowledge, and power to advance the cause of diversity and inclusion in the game industry. In addition, including your audience in the stages of game design, development, and testing guarantees that your creations are in line with their tastes and demands. It also fosters a collaborative environment where their input is respected and taken into consideration.
Educate and advocate: The fourth integral measure to advance diversity and inclusion in the game industry entails an active commitment to education and advocacy. Recognising that the gaming industry is not a passive entity but a potent force shaping and being shaped by culture, society, and politics, it becomes imperative to champion diversity and inclusion. Through robust education and advocacy efforts within the industry, one can elevate awareness, challenge prevailing stereotypes, and instigate transformative change among peers, partners, and consumers. Additionally, there is an opportunity to champion and amplify the voices and narratives of marginalized groups within the game industry, including women, people of colour, LGBTQ+ individuals, those with disabilities, and individuals hailing from low-income or underrepresented regions.
Embracing Diversity for a Brighter Future!
In the ever-expanding landscape of fantasy gaming, the journey towards inclusivity and diversity is a collective effort. By implementing these initiatives, fantasy gaming platforms can transcend virtual boundaries and create communities that are reflective of the diverse world we inhabit. Together, developers, players, and enthusiasts can build a gaming ecosystem that embraces everyone, ensuring that the magic of fantasy gaming is truly for all.
The author of the article is Super4 founder Rohit Bansal.
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.
