Jar of Sparks, the NetEase-backed studio founded by former Halo Infinite design head Jerry Hook, has paused development on its debut game project. The studio is actively seeking a new publishing partner to realize its "next-generation narrative-driven action game" vision.
NetEase, a global gaming giant, currently supports live-service titles like Once Human and the recently launched Marvel Rivals. The latter's success, including the recent Season 1 Battle Pass reveal and upcoming Fantastic Four content, highlights NetEase's commitment to its existing projects.
Hook's LinkedIn post confirmed the development pause and the studio's search for a publishing partner capable of supporting their creative vision. He expressed pride in the team's innovative work but also acknowledged the team members will be "exploring new opportunities," suggesting potential layoffs. A subsequent post clarified the studio's focus on assisting team members in finding new roles as the project concludes.
This isn't the first instance of a prominent game developer forming a NetEase-backed studio; Hiroyuki Kobayashi, a former Resident Evil producer, established GPTRACK50 Studios under NetEase in 2022.
The news comes amidst a period of change for the Halo franchise, marked by 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.
While Jar of Sparks' future remains uncertain, the studio's ambition and the industry's ongoing evolution continue to shape the landscape of game development. The search for a new publishing partner will be a key determinant of the studio's next steps.
[Image: A relevant image showcasing Jar of Sparks' game concept or team members could be placed here. The original image is not provided in the input.]
