Head of Halo Infinite Design Studio Shuts Down First Game Project

Jerry Hook's Jar of Sparks, a NetEase-backed studio, has paused development on its debut game project and is actively seeking a new publishing partner. This news follows Hook's departure from 343 Industries and Microsoft in 2022, after which he established Jar of Sparks with the goal of creating "next-generation narrative-driven action games."

NetEase, a global gaming giant, currently supports live-service titles like Once Human and Marvel Rivals. The latter, recently launched to considerable success, is preparing for its Season 1 Battle Pass and the addition of the Fantastic Four in January 2025.

Hook's LinkedIn post confirmed the development pause, emphasizing the search for a publishing partner who can fully realize Jar of Sparks' creative vision. He expressed pride in the team's innovative work but also acknowledged that team members will be "exploring new opportunities" as the studio closes its first project. This transition will involve assisting team members in finding new roles within the industry over the coming weeks. While layoffs weren't explicitly stated, the implication is clear.

This isn't the first instance of a prominent game developer forming a new studio under NetEase; Hiroyuki Kobayashi, a former Resident Evil producer, established GPTRACK50 Studios in 2022 under the same publisher.

The announcement comes at a time of significant change for the Halo franchise, Hook's previous employer. Halo Infinite's post-launch struggles and the reception to the Paramount+ series have been well-documented. 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 takes a break, the future of Halo may be brighter.

[See at Official Site]