Valerio Di Donato has bought back every last share of 34BigThings from Embracer Group, ending six years under Swedish conglomerate control and restoring full ownership to the Torino studio's co-founder. Acquired in November 2020, the developer of Carmageddon: Rogue Shift and Redout II now stands as Italy's second-largest independent game studio with over 70 employees.

Head of studio Giuseppe Enrico Franchi framed the move as a return to creative sovereignty rather than mere corporate restructuring. "Returning to full independence gives us absolute autonomy to shape our structure, our projects, and our development approach," he stated, adding that the pipeline opens with a major title built on one of the world's most revered intellectual properties later this year, followed by further releases in 2027 and 2028.

Embracer's broader pattern of divestitures, layoffs, and studio spin-offs provides the backdrop, yet 34BigThings' exit reads less like escape from chaos and more like calculated reclamation of narrative control. In an industry where conglomerates often treat studios as interchangeable assets, the co-founder's buyback signals that some still prefer steering their own ship over spreadsheet salvation.