# 1. Financial Performance ## A. Key Figures * Revenue: ₹1025.2 Cr H1 FY26 (+80.2%) * EBITDA: ₹109.4 Cr H1 FY26 (+118.5%) * **Core Gaming Revenue:** **+159%** YoY H1 FY26 · **+159%** YoY Q2 FY26 * **Core Gaming EBITDA:** **+253%** YoY H1 FY26 · **+213%** YoY Q2 FY26 * **Mobile Gaming Revenue:** **+83%** YoY H1 FY26 · **+81%** YoY Q2 FY26 * **Mobile Gaming EBITDA:** **+109%** YoY H1 FY26 · **+95%** YoY Q2 FY26 ## B. Revenue & Growth * **Profitable Growth Focus:** Strategy emphasizes margin discipline over volume expansion, with cost control central to long-term value creation. * **Core Gaming Surge:** Segment demonstrated explosive growth momentum, with **revenue nearly tripling** and EBITDA more than doubling in H1, driven by mobile and live-ops excellence. * **Mobile Momentum Sustained:** Strong double-digit growth in mobile gaming underpinned by improved user acquisition, content refreshes, and sustained performance of flagship titles like *Love Island*. ## C. EBITDA & Margins * **Margin Resilience:** Despite rising corporate investments, core gaming maintained **EBITDA margin of 2%** in H1 and **1%** in Q2, reflecting operational leverage in high-growth verticals. * **Strategic Cost Inflation:** Higher corporate costs due to targeted investments in centers of excellence; management expects **short gestation and rapid ROI**. --- # 2. Segment Performance ## A. Key Figures * **PC-Console Publishing (Nodwin):** **31%** revenue growth · **32%** EBITDA growth (Q2 FY26) * **AdTech:** **501%** YoY revenue growth · **289%** EBITDA growth (Q2 FY26) · **₹10 Cr** EBITDA (H1 FY26) * Offline Gaming (Smaaash & Funky Monkeys): ₹12 Cr EBITDA (H1 FY26) at 27.5% margin * **Other Media Sites:** **83%** YoY revenue growth (H1 FY26) * Human Fall Flat Sales: 1.25 million units sold (Sep 2025) (+25% YoY) · Wobbly Life: 2 million+ lifetime units ## B. Mobile Gaming * **Core Growth Engine:** Mobile gaming remains the primary growth driver, with broad-based strength across key IPs including *Love Island*, *Animal Jam*, and *WCC*. ## C. PC-Console Publishing * **Strong Execution Post-Acquisition:** Curve Games maintains profitability and market position, with robust sales momentum and new platform expansion (Switch 2). * **Nodwin Momentum:** High-teens revenue and EBITDA growth driven by youth content, influencer IP focus, and international eSports expansion. * **Strategic Scaling:** Capital raise in progress to fund growth, supported by internal profits and strategic divestments. ## D. Offline Gaming * **Rapid Physical Expansion:** Funky Monkeys scaling aggressively with **1–2 new stores monthly**, targeting **100 centers** from current 14. * **Revamp & Monetization:** Smaaash 0 relaunch targeted for FY27; segment serves as cash-accretive funnel to digital ecosystems. * **Global Event Reach:** Major IPs like Comic Con India and global eSports events (e.g., CS World Championship) expanding international footprint. ## E. AdTech & Media * **Explosive AdTech Growth:** AdTech delivered hypergrowth on the back of product mix shift and cross-client synergies, contributing meaningfully to H1 EBITDA. * **Diversified Media Portfolio Resilience:** Non-Sportskeeda sites achieved strong revenue growth, offsetting declines and demonstrating portfolio durability. --- # 3. Product & IP Development ## A. Game Launches * **IP Expansion Underway:** Animal Jam set for Roblox launch while Bigg Boss targets Indian market with soft launch live and KPIs being optimized ahead of scaled acquisition. * **AI-Driven Development Accelerating:** WCC 4 cricket game being fully coded using AI via Claude, signaling a strategic shift toward AI-powered production for cost efficiency and speed. * **New Franchise in Pipeline:** Smaaash 0 reimagined with Nazara’s tech stack, with proof-of-concept launches expected imminently. * **Engine & Collaboration Advantage:** Bigg Boss built on proven Fusebox engine and co-developed by UK-India teams to ensure cultural resonance and narrative depth. * **Direct-to-Consumer Platform Advancing:** Nazara Publishing rolling out unified Nazara ID with Google, enabling first-party data utilization, cross-promotion, and loyalty across titles including World Cricket Championship. ## B. Studio Synergies * **Centers of Excellence Driving Leverage:** Globally led teams in AI, user acquisition, and analytics are reducing CAC, improving LTV, and creating cross-studio operating synergies. * **Strategic Ecosystem Collaboration:** Curve deepening integration with Nazara leadership and ecosystem to accelerate growth. * **Rebrand Reflects Strategic Vision:** “Enter. Magic.” identity underscores focus on immersive, imaginative interactive entertainment as emotional relief, reinforcing long-term IP and experience building. --- # 4. Investment & Capital Strategy ## A. Key Figures * **Nodwin Revaluation Gain:** **₹1,098 Cr** (fair value adjustment post de-subsidiarization) * **Freaks4U Impairment:** **₹206 Cr** (Nazara’s share under associate accounting) * **Total Investment in Freaks4U:** **~₹420–430 Cr** (EUR 42 Mn equivalent, including cash, stock, and asset contributions) * **PokerBaazi Cash Balance:** **>₹100 Cr** (excluded from impairment; platform remains financially resilient) ## B. Nodwin Revaluation & Strategic Shift * **De-subsidiarization Triggered Gain:** Loss of majority control led to reclassification of Nodwin as an associate, unlocking a **significant one-time revaluation gain** under Ind AS. * **Valuation Stability Confirmed:** Recent funding rounds—backed by **Krafton, Sony, and founder Akshat Rathee**—occurred at **broadly similar valuations**, supporting fair value recognition. * **Innovation Hub Momentum:** Nodwin continues to attract entrepreneurial talent, with a **50% venture success rate** deemed highly effective for youth IP development. ## C. Freaks4U Impairment & Loss Mitigation * **Proactive Write-off in Downturn:** Impairment reflects early recognition of losses in the **struggling European esports segment**, with management aligned on cutting exposure. * **Limited Cash Impact:** Majority of investment made via **equity swap (Nodwin Singapore asset)**, significantly reducing actual cash outflow despite high book value. * **Funding Halted, Path Set:** Nazara (60–62% owner) will **cease further funding**; Freaks4U must achieve self-sufficiency or pursue insolvency. ## D. PokerBaazi & Smaaash Update * **PokerBaazi Positioned for Turnaround:** Platform retains **strong cash reserves** and is under strategic review for partnerships or monetization of its technology stack. * **Near-Term Losses Expected, But Improving:** Q2 burn of **₹17 Cr** continues amid tech investment; licensing revenue expected in **Q3 FY26** to aid recovery. * **Smaaash Restructuring Underway:** Post-NCLT acquisition, operational cleanup and new hiring are underway to stabilize performance. --- # 5. Traffic & User Trends ## A. Key Figures * **Mobile Gamers in India:** **Over 50 crore** ## B. User Acquisition * **Large Addressable Market:** Massive consumer engagement in Indian mobile gaming, with over 50 crore players, underpinning long-term growth potential. * **New Launch Momentum:** Bigg Boss game launched recently, currently in early user acquisition phase with expectations of multi-season scaling to improve efficiency and broaden reach. ## C. Paying User Metrics * **Paying User Pressure:** Kiddopia faces ongoing challenges with declining average paying users, raising concerns about recovery trajectory and timing. * **Business-Specific Risks:** Both Kiddopia and Sportskeeda are experiencing operational headwinds, warranting close monitoring of monetization trends. --- # 6. Risks & Market Conditions ## A. Regulatory Changes * **Impairment Triggered by Regulatory Shift:** Significant impairment recorded on investment in Moonshine Technologies (PokerBaazi) due to new Indian regulations on online skill-based real-money gaming, impacting fair value assessment. ## B. Geopolitical Downturn * **European Gaming Sector Deterioration:** Initial investment in Freaks4U made during peak European esports strength, now impaired by geopolitical instability causing widespread layoffs and company closures. * **Sector-Wide Contraction:** Global gaming and esports industries facing severe cost-cutting, with **hundreds of thousands of layoffs** and shrinking marketing budgets, amplified by AI-driven operational shifts. ## C. Google Algorithm Risk * **Material Traffic Disruption:** March Google Core update caused sharp decline in organic traffic to Sportskeeda, which underpins **85% of ASPL’s revenue** and **90% of EBITDA**, resulting in significant financial impact. --- # 7. Guidance & Outlook ## A. Key Figures * **Core Gaming Growth Target:** **20–25%** YoY revenue growth · **20–25%** EBITDA margin target * **Nodwin Revenue Ambition:** Target to reach **$1 billion** in revenue over **5–7 years** ## B. Core Growth Target * **Recovery Timeline:** Pro Football Network took three quarters to recover from prior Google update; current two-quarter impact suggests recovery likely within one to two more updates, potentially by **Q4 (November or December)**. * **Growth Drivers:** Core gaming segment poised for more predictable growth, supported by improved user acquisition, advanced data analytics, and enhanced CRM. ## C. Strategic Updates * **Portfolio Resilience:** Diversified business model demonstrated resilience amid regulatory challenges, maintaining platform stability and scalability. * **Global eSports Commitment:** Despite review of outsourcing plans (e.g., Turkey), Nazara remains strongly committed to global eSports expansion under the **Enter. Magic.** growth platform. * **Loss Mitigation:** Management expects no significant losses in H2 due to improved cash position and prior cost actions; Freaks4U losses anticipated to be **minimal or substantially reduced** going forward. * **Turnaround Efforts:** Kiddopia showing signs of stabilization post-IDFA; new business head appointed to lead recovery. * **Moonshine’s Dual Strategy:** Focusing on monetizing loyal Indian users with new offerings and pursuing global expansion via D2C and B2B partnerships with RMG platforms; further updates expected in **Q3**. * **Nodwin’s Growth Engine:** Expansion driven by four pillars—Live events, Content, eSports, and Influencers—supporting global reach in youth media.