Halo Infinite Design Head's Studio Cancels Debut Game Project

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 new venture with Jar of Sparks and NetEase was ambitiously described as the "next generation of narrative-driven action games." The silence from the studio since its inception has often been a concerning sign, and it's now been confirmed that Jar of Sparks is on the hunt for a new publishing partner.

NetEase, a Chinese technology giant founded by Ding Lei in 1997, is renowned for its wide array of online PC and mobile games, advertising services, and e-commerce in China. It stands as one of the world's largest video game companies. Currently, NetEase is heavily invested in its live-service titles, including Once Human and the hero shooter Marvel Rivals, slated for release in December 2024. Following a stellar launch, Marvel Rivals recently unveiled its Season 1 Battle Pass skins, and NetEase is gearing up for the eagerly awaited introduction of the Fantastic Four in the 6v6 PvP title, set for January 10.

In a LinkedIn post, Hook disclosed that the Jar of Sparks team would be pausing their current project while they search for a new publisher. They are seeking a partner who can "help bring our creative vision to life." Since its inception in 2022, Hook emphasized that Jar of Sparks has been taking "bold risks and pushing boundaries...to create something truly new and exciting for the industry." He expressed pride in the foundational work accomplished so far.

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

Lay-offs weren't explicitly mentioned in Hook’s post, but he stressed that the next phase would involve the studio's team members "exploring new opportunities." In a subsequent post, Hook confirmed the studio's commitment to "find all of our team new homes as we close our first project" over the coming weeks. This isn't the first instance of a veteran from a major video game franchise partnering with NetEase; former Resident Evil producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi launched GPTRACK50 Studios in 2022 under the same publisher.

The Halo series, Hook’s former domain, has experienced a tumultuous period with Halo Infinite's post-launch support and the underwhelming reception of the Paramount+ live-action series. As Jar of Sparks takes a temporary break from project development, the Halo franchise might be poised for a revival following 343 Industries' rebranding to Halo Studios. This restructuring, with future titles being developed on Unreal Engine, could provide the franchise with a fresh start.

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