🕹️ A $100M Minecraft theme park is coming

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TOP STORY
🕹️ A $100M Minecraft theme park is coming

Minecraft is officially stepping out of the digital world and into reality. 

The block-building phenomenon has signed a $110 million deal with Merlin Entertainments, Europe’s biggest theme park operator, to build its very own theme park. 

And as expected, they are not holding back. 

The plan is to launch Minecraft-themed rides, attractions, hotel rooms, and retail stores. 

And if I were a Minecraft maestro or even just your average theme park enthusiast, I’d be pretty excited.

Merlin knows how to turn big brands into theme park gold.

• From Lego to Jumanji, they’ve even turned Peppa Pig into a blockbuster attraction.

• So, betting on Minecraft, the bestselling video game of all time, was an obvious next step.  

• And now’s definitely the time to do it, with Minecraft's brand stronger than ever.

They're releasing a live-action movie with Jason Momoa and Jack Black on April 4, 2025, and Netflix is also working on an animated series based on the game, which is expected to be released later next year.

So, get ready, blockheads; dreams really do come true!

TECHNOLOGY
😆 DOJ vs Google: The Never-Ending Saga

Tell me if this sounds familiar. Earlier this week, we got word that the Department of Justice wants to break up Google… again. 

Apparently, they’re convinced Google is hogging the search market with its Chrome browser and Android operating system.  

Cue the déjà vu of the déjà vu.

Google, as you know, has been in this position before, and while they’ve argued that competition has never been fiercer, the DOJ seems determined to f*ck things up. 

Damn, can’t yall just give them a break? What does the DOJ want Google to do this time?  

• Sell off Chrome, Android, or other products tied to its search business.  

• Ban exclusive deals with Apple and Samsung for default search engine status.  

• Add a “choice screen” so users can pick their search engine.  

• Share search data and AI features with competitors.  

Damn, cleaning house. The DOJ wants to rip away “Google’s control of distribution today” to ensure they don’t dominate tomorrow.

How poetic.

Google isn’t just gonna lie down, though. It calls the proposals “radical” and claims they’ll hurt users and businesses more than anyone else.  

What’s the most likely outcome? 

Experts say Google could be forced to drop exclusive deals with Apple, making switching search engines easier for users.

I guess it really is users getting the short end of the stick on this one.

RESTURANTS
🥪 Jersey Mike’s sold for $8B

Attention, sandwich lovers: the sub-game just got serious. More serious, that is.

Blackstone, the $130 billion private equity powerhouse, has officially sealed a deal to acquire a majority stake in Jersey Mike’s Subs. 

The price tag? A mouth-watering $8 billion, debt included.

Let’s dig in, but first, a history lesson.

It all began on the Jersey Shore in 1956 as Mike’s Subs, where 14-year-old Peter Cancro worked making sandwiches with his bare hands. 

• By 1975, he had bought and built the shop into a franchise powerhouse. 

• Today, it’s the second-largest sub-style chain in the U.S., right behind Subway, with over 3,000 locations and a cult-like following.

Quality sandwiches are no laughing matter, people.

Why is Blackstone diving into the subs? 

Hungry? 

It could be, but it’s more likely franchises offer scalable growth without requiring massive capital, which makes them (almost) as attractive as Jersey Mike ambassador Danny Devito.

Blackstone knows this well, having backed franchises like Hilton Hotels, 7Brew Coffee, and Tropical Smoothie Cafe, all within the last year.

Jersey Mike’s is just the latest slice in the franchise pie.

The only question left is whether they will keep the famous Jersey attitude on the menu.