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 studio, Jar of Sparks, under NetEase, has halted development on its first game project. Hook, who left 343 Industries and Microsoft in 2022, had aimed to create the "next generation of narrative-driven action games" with Jar of Sparks. The lack of updates from the studio since its inception has raised concerns, and it's now confirmed that they are seeking a new publishing partner to realize their creative vision.

NetEase, a prominent Chinese technology company founded by Ding Lei in 1997, is known for its extensive portfolio in online PC and mobile games, as well as advertising services and e-commerce in China. As one of the world's largest video game companies, NetEase continues to support its live-service titles, including Once Human and the hero shooter Marvel Rivals, set for release in December 2024. Marvel Rivals has already launched its Season 1 Battle Pass skins and is gearing up for the introduction of the Fantastic Four in its 6v6 PvP mode on January 10.

In a LinkedIn post, Hook shared that the Jar of Sparks team would pause work on their current title while searching for a new publisher. He expressed pride in the team's efforts, noting that they had taken "bold risks and pushed boundaries" to create something innovative for the gaming industry. While layoffs were not explicitly mentioned, Hook emphasized that the team members would be "exploring new opportunities" and that the studio would assist in finding new positions for them as they close their first project over the coming weeks.

This isn't the first instance of a veteran from a major franchise partnering with NetEase; former Resident Evil producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi founded GPTRACK50 Studios under NetEase in 2022. Meanwhile, the Halo series, Hook's previous project, has faced its own challenges with Halo Infinite's post-launch support and the underwhelming Paramount+ live-action series. As Jar of Sparks takes a break from development, the Halo franchise might be on the path to redemption following 343 Industries' rebranding to Halo Studios and their shift to using Unreal Engine for future titles.

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