Disney spends $1.5 billion on Fortnite, Google Bard becomes Gemini and welcome update for Tesla

Didn’t have time to follow the news yesterday? Here’s what marked Thursday February 8: Disney and Fortnite, the Google Bard has become a Gemini, and there’s a big update for Tesla. To not miss any news, remember to subscribe to the Frandroid newsletter.

Disney invests $1.5 billion in Epic Games

Disney is investing $1.5 billion in Epic Games, looking to merge the Fortnite video game universe with its franchises such as Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars. The aim is to create new video game experiences as well as a virtual amusement park similar to the Lego Fortnite experience. The collaboration comes at a strategic time for Epic Games, which is experiencing financial difficulties related to Fortnite while dealing with a lawsuit with Apple. For Disney, the alliance represents a new growth driver at a time when the Marvel Cinematic Universe is slowing down.

Google Gemin is available in France

Google Bard is dead, here comes Google Gemini. With the launch of ChatGPT’s paid version, Gemini Advanced, Google is offering a $20 per month subscription in the US, which offers access to Gemini Ultra 1.0, better performance, integration with Gmail, Docs and more, as well as 2 TB. Storage on Google Drive. Also introduced is the Gemini Mobile app, accessible via a shortcut on the Play Store, highlighting the potential replacement of Google Assistant by Gemini in the future.

Tesla proves its superiority on long journeys

Tesla is introducing a feature in the central display of its cars, allowing drivers to see the estimated number of available charging stations upon arrival, as well as the number of vehicles headed for Superchargers. This innovation aims to avoid the stress of waiting while charging, especially during busy periods. Although this feature depends on destinations previously entered by drivers, it provides useful predictions for planning alternatives in the event of Supercharger congestion.