A 32% improvement in EBITDA reflects stronger operating discipline alongside continued investments in content, IPs, and international growth 

National, 4 August 2026: NODWIN Gaming, a global leader in youth entertainment, today announced its financial results for the first quarter of FY27, reporting consolidated revenue of INR 116 crore. While the first quarter has historically been the company’s slowest due to the seasonality of its business, NODWIN continued to deliver stable revenue growth while significantly improving its operating performance.

The company reported an EBITDA loss of INR 11 crore in Q1 FY26 which narrowed to INR 7.53 crore in Q1 FY27, representing a 32% improvement. This indicates NODWIN’s greater operating discipline, and continued focus on building a stronger, more efficient business.

NODWIN’s business is built around a flywheel powered by its Content and Live verticals. Content serves as the entry point, helping audiences discover new games, creators, communities, and cultural interests across digital platforms. As engagement deepens, Live Experiences such as esports tournaments like BGMS, music festivals like NH7 Weekender and fan conventions like Comic Con India transform these audiences into highly superfans. This deeper engagement unlocks deeper monetization opportunities across brand sponsorships, ticketing, merchandise, and media rights, while creating new avenues to re-invest in fresh content and experiences. The continuous cycle of discovery, engagement, and monetisation enables NODWIN to grow its communities while building a scalable youth entertainment business across high-growth markets in the Global South. 

During the quarter, the company expanded its content portfolio with several new initiatives aimed at broadening its presence across gaming and youth culture. These include the initiation of projects in Trading Cards and Board Games, a premium pop culture merchandise business, and The National Math Bee developed in partnership with Bhanzu. NODWIN also announced the international expansion of its flagship creator-led gaming entertainment IP, Playground, which will debut in the United States alongside its India edition this year.

The company also confirmed the 2026–27 editions of its successful partnerships with Rusk Media, further strengthening its entertainment content pipeline.

NODWIN Gaming also strengthened its publisher partnerships during the quarter, with the company and Garena agreeing to work together to support the growth of Free Fire MAX in India. The collaboration reinforces NODWIN’s role as a trusted partner for global publishers looking to build sustainable gaming communities through competitive gaming, creator-led engagement, and live experiences. 

Beyond gaming, NODWIN’s partner support services business continued to expand internationally during the quarter, delivering projects for the Saudi Football Federation and the Belgian Football Association, reflecting the company’s growing capabilities in sports and entertainment production.

The quarter also marked an important phase in NODWIN’s long-term growth strategy. Following the ceasing of funding to Freaks4U, the company deliberately paused acquisitions to refine its M&A framework, strengthen integration processes, and demonstrate the strength of its organic business. NODWIN expects approximately 30% organic growth during the current financial year and is preparing to restart its acquisition strategy based on its updated playbook.

Several business developments are expected to positively influence performance over the coming quarters. One of NODWIN’s highly profitable global PUBG Mobile properties which took place in Q1 in FY 26 has shifted to Q2 in FY27 because of scheduling changes. NH7 has transitioned to a licensing model in India, allowing licence revenue to directly strengthen profitability. Comic Con India has also moved away from minimum guarantee agreements, enabling direct ticket sales that better align revenues and operating costs with event performance while supporting higher attendance.

NODWIN also strengthened its position within the global esports ecosystem after being appointed as India’s National Team Partner for the inaugural Esports Nations Cup 2026. The company is supporting Team India’s participation at the tournament, with the country having already qualified across seven titles for the Riyadh Finals, reflecting the growing competitiveness of Indian esports on the global stage. 

Operational excellence remained a key focus throughout the quarter. NODWIN has deployed more than 10 internally developed AI-powered workflow solutions across Finance, HR, Legal, Sales, and Production, with these initiatives expected to generate approximately INR 12 crore in software replacement led cost savings over the next three years.

The company’s people-first philosophy also continues to deliver strong outcomes. NODWIN expanded its ESOP programme to cover all employees, contributing to attrition below 5%. Founder retention across acquired businesses remains at 100%, with every founder continuing to lead existing operations while driving new global initiatives, reinforcing the effectiveness of NODWIN’s long-term integration strategy.

Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder and Managing Director, NODWIN Gaming, said: “The first quarter is traditionally our lightest from a revenue perspective because of the timing of our largest properties, but the progress we’ve made on operating performance is encouraging. Over the past year, we have focused on building a stronger foundation by improving efficiency, refining our acquisition strategy, investing in technology, and expanding the opportunities around our Live and Content businesses.

We are seeing that discipline translate into a healthier business. Every step we are taking today is helping build a business that is increasingly ready for the responsibilities of the public markets. At the same time, we continue to expand our portfolio with new entertainment formats, international opportunities, and consumer products that strengthen our engagement with youth audiences. As we restart our acquisition journey, our focus remains on building an integrated global youth entertainment company with sustainable growth, strong founder-led businesses, and diversified revenue streams.” 

With a growing portfolio spanning gaming, esports, live entertainment, creators, commerce, consumer products, and content, NODWIN Gaming continues to strengthen its position as a global youth entertainment company built for long-term, sustainable growth.