Italy's 34BigThings spins out from Embracer Group

Italian studio 34BigThings has spun out of games conglomerate Embracer Group.

Game Developer reports that the company's co-founder Valerio Di Donata has bought 100% of the studio's stock from the European giant. In doing so, 34BigThings is apparently the second-largest independent game developer in Italy.

The studio is best known for titles such as Carmageddon Rogue Shift and Redout.

"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," Di Donata said.

"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 acquired 34BigThings back in 2020 during its seemingly-endless run of games purchases.

The studio now boasts over 70 members of staff and will be headed up by co-founder Giuseppe Enrico Franchi.

Since its huge line of purchases, the Embracer Group of today is a very different beast. The firm has split into three separate organisations: Asmodee Group, Coffee Stain Group and, finally, Fellowship Entertainment.

Former CEO Lars Wingefors said that the final spin-off, Fellowship Entertainment, represented "the most effective long-term solution" in a letter to shareholders.

"The main rationale to spin-off Fellowship is to increase management focus to capture the full joint potential of the IPs, their respective communities and some of the best game developers in the world," Wingefors wrote.

"Just like Asmodee and Coffee Stain, we believe Fellowship Entertainment will thrive the most by becoming its own standalone business."