Digital Foundry, the video-game technology publication known for its rigorous console and PC performance analyses, has regained its independence after purchasing the 50 percent stake previously held by IGN. Founder Richard Leadbetter acquired half of that stake, while Eurogamer co-founder Rupert Loman bought the other half, ending nearly a decade of outside corporate ownership. Leadbetter, who retained 50 percent of the company when he first sold a share to Eurogamer in 2015, now controls 75 percent of the business. The transaction gives the five-person team full editorial and commercial control. “We answer to nobody but you, the audience,” Leadbetter said in a podcast outlining the change. Digital Foundry is already profitable, drawing an estimated $200,000 a year from Patreon supporters and operating a YouTube channel followed by about 1.5 million subscribers. Management plans to expand with a dedicated publishing site, a retro-gaming podcast and additional staff focused on PC hardware, while keeping most content free to access. The move follows a broader shift of games-media brands pursuing audience-funded, independent models after years of consolidation and layoffs across the sector.