Summary

• Development on Jar of Sparks' first game project has been halted, and the studio is actively seeking a new publishing partner.
• NetEase, a major video game company, is currently supporting live-service titles like Once Human and Marvel Rivals.
• Former Halo Infinite head Jerry Hook left 343 Industries and Microsoft back in 2022 and formed Jar of Sparks in the same year.

Former Halo Infinite head of design Jerry Hook has announced that his first-party developer Jar of Sparks, under NetEase, has halted development on its first game project. Hook left 343 Industries and Microsoft in 2022, and his next endeavor with Jar of Sparks and NetEase was labeled the "next generation of narrative-driven action games." The studio's silence since its formation has been concerning, and it's now confirmed that Jar of Sparks is seeking a new publishing partner.

NetEase, a Chinese technology company founded by Ding Lei in 1997, is a major player in the global video game industry. The company focuses on online PC and mobile games, advertising services, and e-commerce in China. Currently, NetEase is supporting its live-service titles, including Once Human and the hero shooter Marvel Rivals, set to release in December 2024. Following a successful launch, Marvel Rivals recently unveiled its Season 1 Battle Pass skins, and NetEase is gearing up for the much-anticipated arrival of the Fantastic Four in the 6v6 PvP title on January 10.

In a LinkedIn post, Hook confirmed that the Jar of Sparks team would pause work on their current title while searching for a new publisher. The team is looking for a partner who can "help bring our creative vision to life." Since its launch in 2022, Hook noted that the team had taken "bold risks and pushed boundaries...to create something truly new and exciting for the industry." He expressed pride in the groundwork laid by the team.

NetEase's Jar of Sparks Studio Halts Development on First Game Project

While layoffs weren't specifically mentioned in Hook's post, he highlighted that the next step would involve the studio's team members "exploring new opportunities." In a separate post, Hook confirmed that the studio would work to "find all of our team new homes as we close our first project" over the next few weeks. This isn't the first time a veteran from a major video game franchise has launched a new studio with NetEase; former Resident Evil producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi formed GPTRACK50 Studios in 2022 under the publisher.

The Halo series, Hook's former domain, has faced challenges in recent years, particularly with Halo Infinite's post-launch support and the underwhelming Paramount+ live-action series. As Jar of Sparks takes a temporary hiatus from project development, the Halo franchise may be poised for a comeback. 343 Industries' rebranding to Halo Studios and the shift to developing future titles on Unreal Engine could be the changes needed to revitalize the franchise.

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