Jar of Sparks, NetEase's Studio, Pauses First Game Project
Jerry Hook, former design lead for Halo Infinite, announced that his studio, Jar of Sparks, a NetEase subsidiary, has temporarily halted development on its debut game project. Hook, who left 343 Industries and Microsoft in 2022 to establish Jar of Sparks, described the project as a "next-generation narrative-driven action game." The studio's silence since its inception proved ominous, culminating in the confirmation of a search for a new publishing partner.
NetEase, a global gaming giant, currently supports live-service titles Once Human and Marvel Rivals. The latter, released in December 2024, recently launched its Season 1 Battle Pass and anticipates the arrival of the Fantastic Four in January 2025.
Hook's LinkedIn post explained the development pause, stating Jar of Sparks is seeking a publisher that can fully realize their creative vision. He expressed pride in the team's innovative work and bold risks taken to create something unique.
Jar of Sparks' Project Halt and Team Transition
While Hook's post didn't explicitly mention layoffs, he indicated team members will be "exploring new opportunities." A subsequent post confirmed efforts to find new positions for all team members over the coming weeks as the studio concludes its first project. This situation echoes the 2022 formation of GPTRACK50 Studios by former Resident Evil producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi, another NetEase partnership.
The Halo franchise, Hook's former domain, has experienced challenges with Halo Infinite's post-launch content and the reception of the Paramount+ series. However, 343 Industries' rebranding to Halo Studios and the shift to Unreal Engine offer potential for the franchise's revival. Meanwhile, Jar of Sparks' temporary pause presents an opportunity for strategic repositioning.
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