34BigThings has announced it will go back to being independently owned after breaking away from Embracer Group. The original founder, Valerio Di Donato, has re-acquired 100% of the company’s shares from Embracer Group, and now plans on “streamlining the studio for agile, direct global partnerships.”
Established in 2013, 34BigThings is the second-largest independent game development studio in Italy. The company is a developer for games across PC, console, and mobile devices, including well-known titles like Redout and Carmageddon: Rogue Shift.
“34BigThings was born as an indie studio and has always remained indie at heart, guided by a simple philosophy: ‘We make games we love to play,’” said founder Valerio Di Donato, in a press release. “By joining the Embracer Group in 2020, 34BigThings gained a secure platform that allowed us to scale to a mighty team of 70+, establishing us as an acclaimed force in the European development scene.
“This provided us with invaluable structure and stability, while offering a first-hand look at the complexities of balancing internal development with external stakeholders. Through this journey, we have cultivated deep, hands-on experience in managing world-class IPs and navigating complex global production pipelines, witnessing first-hand how business operations can be conducted within small and large teams, within a single entity and across multiple studios.”
Di Donato continued, “This is a level of experience we now bring to the next phase of our journey. By returning to a privately held, founder-owned structure, we are able to operate with greater focus and agility. We are well-positioned to build direct, ambitious partnerships with global publishers and investors.”
Following the transition, the studio will be led by Head of Studio and original co-founder Giuseppe Enrico Franchi, together with a streamlined board of directors consisting of Valerio Di Donato and CFO Daniel Giagnorio.
“Since our inception in 2013, we have felt part of a rising, unstoppable tide. We were good and lucky enough to be part of a golden age of indie devs,” says Giuseppe Enrico Franchi, in the same press release. “Returning to full independence gives us absolute autonomy to shape our structure, our projects, and our development approach. It’s refreshing to be steering our own ship once more.”
“This new chapter will begin with an absolute bang. Later this year, we will be announcing a major title built on one of the most important, beloved, and revered intellectual properties in the world. And that’s just the start: our production pipeline is fully charged, with another major title scheduled for 2027 followed by another groundbreaking project slated for 2028.”
Embracer Group officially acquired 34BigThings on November 18, 2020. The studio was purchased through Embracer’s subsidiary, Saber Interactive, meaning the studio’s independence comes after nearly six years under the ownership of Embracer Group.