Halo Infinite Design Head\'s Studio Halts Its First Game Project

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 suspended development on its debut project. Hook, who left 343 Industries and Microsoft in 2022 to establish Jar of Sparks, described the initial project as a "next-generation narrative-driven action game." The studio's recent silence indicated potential challenges, now confirmed by their search for a new publishing partner to realize their creative 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, including the recent announcement of Season 1 Battle Pass skins and upcoming Fantastic Four content, showcases NetEase's commitment to live-service models.

Hook's LinkedIn post confirmed the development pause, emphasizing the studio's ambition to create "something truly new and exciting." While layoffs weren't explicitly mentioned, a subsequent post indicated the team would be assisted in finding new roles as the initial project concludes within the coming weeks. This situation echoes the 2022 formation of GPTRACK50 Studios by former Resident Evil producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi, also under NetEase's umbrella.

The news comes amidst a period of transition for the Halo franchise, following 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 suggest a potential resurgence for the franchise. Meanwhile, Jar of Sparks' temporary pause allows them to find a publisher better suited to their ambitious project.

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