The following is the official statement from the 34BigThings team on the new ownership structure of the studio, with original Founder Valerio Di Donato re-acquiring 100% of the company.
“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,’” says Founder Valerio Di Donato.
“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 firsthand how business operations can be conducted within small and large teams, within a single entity and across multiple studios.
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. “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.”
It all started as a post-degree dream in a living room. We have conquered so much, but what drives us today is the same ambition and curiosity. 34BigThings is back where it belongs, and we are ready for our next big step.
About 34BigThings
Established in 2013, with a growing team of over 70 talented people, 34BigThings is the second largest independent game development studio in Italy. The studio is a developer for premium games across PC, console, and mobile devices. We use cutting-edge technology to create innovative, genre-leading games that receive critical acclaim and capture the imagination of players around the world. We have released over 10 premium games topping charts on all gaming platforms.
