There hasn’t been much buzz lately about any new acquisitions in the world of video game intellectual property. According to a recent report, Sony is currently engaged in discussions with a well-funded partner to potentially acquire the renowned film studio Paramount, along with all the exciting possibilities that come with such a merger.

As reported in the New York Times (thanks, ResetEra), Sony Picture Entertainment is reportedly in discussions with Apollo Global Management, an investment firm, as per two sources familiar with the matter. In the past, Apollo had made an offer to acquire Paramount for a minimum of $26 billion, but their bid was ultimately turned down.

The terms of the joint bid are currently under discussion, and there is a chance that the two parties may decide against making a formal offer. Unnamed sources have revealed that Paramount is currently in exclusive discussions with Skydance, preventing any official offer from being made at this time. Investor opposition to the recent deal that Skydance brought seems to have been significant.

Sony Pictures Entertainment and Apollo Global Management, an investment firm, have been in discussions about teaming up for a joint bid to acquire Paramount, people familiar with the situation said Thursday. https://t.co/qN86H4y7Va

— The New York Times (@nytimes) April 18, 2024

The potential impact of such an acquisition is immense. First and foremost, it would introduce adaptations of Sonic and Halo into the expanding media empire of the PlayStation platform holder. Following the announcement, Paramount’s stock experienced a significant 11% surge in after-hours trading.

What are your thoughts on the news? Is there a possibility of Sony acquiring Paramount? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Amazon has just made the exciting announcement that a second season of the highly acclaimed Fallout TV adaptation is in the works. Fans can look forward to another thrilling installment of the series, which will be exclusively available on the Amazon Prime streaming service. Confirmation has arrived regarding the second batch of episodes for the series, following the acquisition of $25 million in Californian tax credits.

In just four days after its release, Fallout has already captivated audiences, quickly becoming one of Amazon Prime’s most-watched TV shows of all time. It has garnered immense popularity, rivaling even the acclaimed season of The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power.

Wouldn't want to keep you on the edge of your seat, now, would we?

See you back in the Wasteland for SEASON 2. pic.twitter.com/ULs6DEPHDW

— FALLOUT⚡️ (@falloutonprime) April 18, 2024

The Fallout TV show has caused a massive surge in sales for the newer games, resulting in a staggering 7,500% increase in purchases of Fallout 4 in Europe. Fallout 76, Fallout 3, and Fallout: New Vegas were also among the top 10 best-selling games across the continent last week. Next week, the highly anticipated PS5 version of Fallout 4 will be released, offering players an enhanced visual experience with new graphical modes. Additionally, players can look forward to exciting new content from the Creation Club.

Considering the potential for character development and narrative arcs, it would be intriguing to see where season two takes Lucy, Maximus, and The Ghoul. Without revealing any spoilers, it’s exciting to speculate on the possible directions their stories could go. We would greatly appreciate your feedback in the comments section.

Tesla remains committed to its ambitious project of constructing an electric big-rig charging corridor spanning from Texas to California, undeterred by being excluded from a lucrative federal funding program associated with President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. However, we have learned that the project’s original scope may still undergo modifications.

The company had been looking to secure close to $100 million from the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant program under the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). With approximately $24 million of its own funds, Tesla aimed to construct nine electric semi-truck charging stations spanning from Laredo, Texas, to Fremont, California.

This corridor, if implemented, would create a groundbreaking charging network that has the potential to revolutionize long-distance and regional electric trucking, making a significant contribution to the reduction of pollution in the transportation industry. Without it, however, Tesla’s commitment to revolutionize heavy-duty trucking could face even more delays than it already has.

The project, known as TESSERACT, was presented to the FHWA. It was mentioned in a slide within a lengthy 964-page filing with the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Tesla worked together with SCAQMD on the application.

However, Tesla was not on the list of 47 recipients that the Biden administration announced in January. Together, those winners were granted a staggering $623 million to construct electric vehicle charging and refueling stations nationwide. Despite Tesla’s success in winning approximately 13% of all other charging awards from the Infrastructure Act, the company has only managed to secure around $17 million in revenue.

Rohan Patel, who recently departed from his VP position at Tesla amidst the company’s 10% workforce reduction, mentioned in a message that Tesla might explore options such as state funding opportunities or future rounds of the CFI program. According to him, some of the sites along the route are obvious choices, even without funding.

The 1,800-mile route would connect Tesla’s two North American vehicle factories, as well as one that is planned but delayed in Mexico. Every station was initially planned to have eight 750kW chargers specifically for Tesla Semis, along with four chargers available for other electric trucks. It’s uncertain how successful it would be if the company couldn’t construct all nine stations, which are evenly spaced along the route.

Approximately half of the CFI funding recipients selected by the Biden administration have prioritized the expansion of EV charging infrastructure in various communities, including urban and rural areas. These efforts aim to establish charging stations at key locations such as schools, parks, libraries, and multi-family housing complexes, among others.

A significant portion of the funding was allocated to support 11 “corridor” projects, several of which are located along the I-10 corridor that coincides with Tesla’s proposed route. This allocation involves $70 million to the North Texas Council of Governments for the construction of up to five hydrogen fueling stations catering to medium and heavy-duty trucks in the Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio regions.

The Department of Transportation stated in January that the project will contribute to the establishment of a hydrogen corridor stretching from southern California to Texas.

“Funding hydrogen stations will be seen as a complete waste of money,” Patel stated in an interview.

Although he is no longer representing Tesla, he expressed his disapproval of funding hydrogen infrastructure during his tenure at the company.

On X in February, he expressed his frustration with governments worldwide for squandering tax dollars on hydrogen for light/heavy duty infrastructure. Quitting is always possible, just like giving up smoking.

There are other challenges to the project besides funding. Tesla’s recent restructuring could add another layer of complexity.

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has expressed a strong commitment to advancing autonomy within the company. It has been reported that Tesla has shifted its focus from a planned low-cost electric vehicle to prioritizing the development of a specialized robotaxi. The Semi has experienced significant delays in its production timeline, with Tesla having manufactured only a limited number of around 100 units so far.

Despite all this, the Tesla Semi program continues to gain traction among customers. Shortly after the restructuring, Dan Priestley, the head of the Semi program, took to social media to announce a promising new customer for the trucks. In March, Priestley also mentioned that Tesla has been utilizing Semis to transport battery packs from Nevada to the Fremont factory.