Summary
- Jar of Sparks, led by former Halo Infinite head Jerry Hook, has halted development on its first game project and is actively seeking a new publishing partner.
- NetEase, a major video game company, continues to support live-service titles such as Once Human and Marvel Rivals.
- Jerry Hook left 343 Industries and Microsoft in 2022 to form Jar of Sparks.
Former Halo Infinite head of design Jerry Hook has announced that his studio, Jar of Sparks, under NetEase, has paused development on its inaugural game project. Hook departed from 343 Industries and Microsoft in 2022 to launch Jar of Sparks, aiming to create the "next generation of narrative-driven action games." Despite the initial excitement, the studio has been relatively quiet, and it's now confirmed they are on the hunt for a new publishing partner.
NetEase, a Chinese technology giant founded by Ding Lei in 1997, is well-known for its expansive reach in online PC and mobile gaming, as well as advertising services and e-commerce within China. As one of the world's largest video game companies, NetEase is currently focused on supporting its live-service titles, including Once Human and the upcoming hero shooter, Marvel Rivals, set for release in December 2024. Following a successful launch, Marvel Rivals has introduced its Season 1 Battle Pass skins and is gearing up for the much-anticipated arrival of the Fantastic Four in its 6v6 PvP mode on January 10.
In a LinkedIn post, Hook revealed that the Jar of Sparks team would be taking a break from their current project to find a new publisher. They are seeking a partner who can "help bring our creative vision to life." Since its inception in 2022, Jar of Sparks has been taking "bold risks and pushing boundaries" to develop something innovative and exciting for the gaming industry. Hook expressed his pride in the foundational work accomplished so far.
NetEase's Jar of Sparks Studio Halts Development on First Game Project
While Hook did not mention layoffs directly, he emphasized that the next steps would involve team members "exploring new opportunities." In a subsequent post, he confirmed that the studio would assist in finding new positions for the team over the coming weeks as they close their first project. This move echoes a similar venture by former Resident Evil producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi, who formed GPTRACK50 Studios in 2022 under NetEase.
The Halo franchise, where Hook once played a significant role, has faced its own challenges with Halo Infinite's post-launch support and the underwhelming reception of the Paramount+ live-action series. As Jar of Sparks temporarily pauses its project development, the Halo franchise might be poised for a comeback following 343 Industries' rebranding to Halo Studios and their shift to using Unreal Engine for future titles, potentially breathing new life into the series.
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