Italian studio 34BigThings has regained independence from Embracer Group after co-founder Valerio Di Donato reacquired 100 percent of the company’s shares. Game Developer reported that the Torino-based developer is now the second-largest independent game studio in Italy, with more than 70 employees.
The studio was acquired by Embracer in November 2020, during a period when the Swedish group was aggressively expanding through acquisitions. That strategy later reversed into restructuring, divestments, layoffs, and studio closures, making 34BigThings’ exit part of a wider reassessment of scale and ownership in the games business.
Head of studio and co-founder Giuseppe Enrico Franchi said the move gives the company more autonomy over its structure, projects, and development approach. The studio is best known for Redout II and Carmageddon Rogue Shift, but its next phase appears to be built around larger external intellectual property. Franchi said the company plans to announce a major title later this year, followed by additional projects in 2027 and 2028.
For 34BigThings, independence creates both freedom and exposure. The company can make faster strategic decisions, negotiate directly with partners, and define its own production culture. At the same time, it loses the financial umbrella that a larger group can provide, particularly in a market where publishers are cautious and development costs remain high.
The buyback is another signal that consolidation is no longer the only path for ambitious mid-sized studios. After years in which acquisition was often presented as a route to stability, some developers are now trying to prove that focused independence can be more useful than being one part of a strained corporate portfolio.
