Jar of Sparks, NetEase's Studio, Pauses Development on First Game

Jerry Hook, former Halo Infinite design lead, announced that his studio, Jar of Sparks, a NetEase subsidiary, has temporarily halted development on its debut 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 recent confirmation of their search for a new publishing partner.

NetEase, a prominent global video game company, currently supports live-service titles such as Once Human and Marvel Rivals. The latter, launched in December 2024, recently unveiled its Season 1 Battle Pass and is gearing up for the addition of the Fantastic Four on January 10th.

Hook's LinkedIn post confirmed the development pause, emphasizing the studio's pursuit of a publishing partner capable of realizing their creative vision. He expressed pride in the team's innovative work and bold risks taken to create a unique gaming experience.

While layoffs weren't explicitly stated, Hook indicated that team members would be exploring new opportunities. A subsequent post confirmed the studio's commitment to assisting its employees in finding new roles as the first project concludes. This mirrors the experience of Hiroyuki Kobayashi, former Resident Evil producer, who established GPTRACK50 Studios under NetEase in 2022.

The Halo franchise, Hook's previous domain, has faced challenges with Halo Infinite's post-launch support and the reception of the Paramount+ series. However, 343 Industries' rebranding to Halo Studios and the shift to Unreal Engine for future titles might signal a revitalization for the franchise. Meanwhile, Jar of Sparks' temporary hiatus marks a significant development in its journey.

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