Jar of Sparks, NetEase's Studio, Pauses First Game Project; Seeks New Publisher
Jerry Hook, former Halo Infinite design lead, announced that his studio, Jar of Sparks, a NetEase subsidiary, has temporarily halted development on its debut game project. The studio, established in 2022, aimed to create "next-generation narrative-driven action games," but is now actively searching for a new publishing partner to realize its vision.
NetEase, a global gaming giant, currently supports live-service titles such as Once Human and the recently launched Marvel Rivals. The latter's successful launch and upcoming Season 1 Battle Pass, along with the anticipated arrival of the Fantastic Four on January 10th, highlight NetEase's commitment to its existing projects.
Hook's LinkedIn post confirmed the development pause, emphasizing the studio's search for a publisher that can fully support its creative goals. He expressed pride in the team's innovative work and bold risks, despite the setback. While layoffs weren't explicitly mentioned, a subsequent post indicated the studio would assist team members in finding new roles in the coming weeks.
This situation mirrors the experience of other veteran developers who've partnered with NetEase, such as Hiroyuki Kobayashi, former Resident Evil producer, who formed GPTRACK50 Studios in 2022.
The news comes amidst a period of transition for the Halo franchise, which has faced challenges with Halo Infinite's post-launch content and the reception of the Paramount+ series. However, 343 Industries' rebranding to Halo Studios and the shift to Unreal Engine for future titles suggest a potential resurgence for the franchise.
While Jar of Sparks' future remains uncertain, the studio's dedication to innovative gameplay and storytelling is evident. Their search for a new publisher will be closely watched by the industry.
