34BigThings Goes Independent After Six Years With Embracer

34BigThings, the developer behind Carmageddon: Rogue Shift and the Redout series, is officially independent again. After six years under the Embracer Group umbrella, the studio announced today that original co-founder Valerio Di Donato has acquired full ownership of the company.

Moving forward, the studio will be led by Di Donato, fellow co-founder Giuseppe Enrico Franchi, and newly appointed chief financial officer Daniel Giagnorio. While the studio grew to more than 70 employees during its time with Embracer, the leadership team expressed a clear intent to pivot toward a more autonomous operational model.

Autonomy and Future Pipeline

For Franchi, the return to independence is about regaining the freedom to dictate the studio's creative path. "Being independent means being free to pick and choose our own projects, freely discard what doesn't work, allocate production resources the way we see fit, and being quicker in seizing external opportunities without having to wait for approval," Franchi told PC Gamer.

Di Donato characterized the move as a strategic decision focused on future growth, noting that their reacquisition plans were separate from any external conversations. He also offered credit to Embracer for providing the structure necessary to stabilize the studio during their six-year tenure.

The studio is now wasting no time in establishing its new trajectory. According to Franchi, 34BigThings intends to kick off this next phase "with an absolute bang." The team has a high-profile project currently in the works, centered on what they describe as one of the most beloved and revered intellectual properties in the world. That announcement is expected to drop later this year.

Looking further ahead, the studio has confirmed a full production pipeline with another major title slated for 2027, followed by a separate project scheduled for 2028.

The Broader Context

The departure of 34BigThings comes amidst a period of significant change for Embracer, which has spent the last few years undergoing widespread restructurings, including studio closures, divestments, and staff layoffs. While the financial terms of 34BigThings' independence were not disclosed, the move marks a notable addition to the list of studios leaving the Embracer ecosystem.

For now, 34BigThings appears focused on its internal reorganization and the upcoming reveal of its next major title, signaling a clear shift away from the corporate oversight that defined its last half-decade of PC Gaming and multi-platform development.