Halo Infinite Design Head’s Studio Halts Its First Game Project

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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.

According to Jerry Hook, the former lead designer of “Halo Infinite,” development on his first project with independent developer Jar of Sparks under NetEase has come to a halt. After departing from 343 Industries and Microsoft in 2022, Hook had been working on what was described as the “next generation of narrative-driven action games.” However, since the studio’s formation, there has been limited communication, and it is now known that Jar of Sparks is seeking a new publishing partner.

NetEase, a Chinese tech company launched by Ding Lei in 1997, provides online gaming, advertising services, e-commerce, and more within China, making it one of the biggest video game companies globally. Currently, they’re backing their live-service games such as “Once Human” and the upcoming hero shooter game, “Marvel Rivals,” set for release in December 2024. Following a successful debut, “Marvel Rivals” has unveiled its Season 1 Battle Pass skins, while NetEase eagerly awaits the introduction of the Fantastic Four to their 6v6 PvP title on January 10th.

On LinkedIn, Hook announced a temporary halt in Jar of Sparks’ ongoing project as they actively seek a suitable publisher. The team is eager to collaborate with a partner who can assist in realizing their innovative creative ideas. Formerly involved in Halo Infinite development, Jar of Sparks was established in 2022 by Hook. Since its inception, the team has dared to take risks and push boundaries, aiming to develop something fresh and captivating for the industry. Hook also expressed his pride in the foundational work they have accomplished so far.

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

In Hook’s post, lay-offs weren’t explicitly mentioned, but he emphasized that the team members at the studio would be looking for fresh opportunities next. A subsequent post from Hook also confirmed that they were working on helping their team find new workplaces over the coming weeks as they wrap up their first project. This isn’t a unique situation; previously, a seasoned professional from a well-known video game franchise, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, established GPTRACK50 Studios in 2022 with NetEase serving as the publisher.

The “Halo” series, once familiar territory for Hook, has faced some rough patches lately, particularly in terms of “Halo Infinite’s” post-release support and the live-action Paramount+ series that fans found lacking. As Jar of Sparks pauses its project work, it seems the “Halo” franchise could be on the verge of renewal. This is due to 343 Industries rebranding as Halo Studios, and their plan to develop future games using Unreal Engine, which might bring fresh momentum to the series.

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2025-01-08 14:07