Jar of Sparks, the NetEase-backed studio founded by former Halo Infinite lead designer Jerry Hook, has paused development on its debut project. The studio is actively seeking a new publishing partner to help realize its creative vision for a next-generation narrative-driven action game.
Hook's LinkedIn post confirms the development halt and the team's search for a new collaborator. He expressed pride in the team's innovative work and bold risks, but also acknowledged that team members will be exploring new opportunities. A subsequent post clarified that the studio will assist its employees in finding new positions in the coming weeks.
This news follows the trend of veteran developers establishing studios with NetEase. The publisher currently supports live-service titles such as Once Human and Marvel Rivals, the latter of which recently launched its Season 1 Battle Pass and is preparing for the addition of the Fantastic Four in January 2025.
While Jar of Sparks' project is temporarily on hold, the future remains uncertain. The announcement doesn't explicitly mention layoffs, but the focus on assisting employees in finding new roles suggests a significant restructuring. This situation contrasts with the recent positive developments within the Halo franchise, which is undergoing a restructuring under the newly named Halo Studios and transitioning to Unreal Engine.
The situation at Jar of Sparks highlights the challenges faced by even veteran-led studios in securing publishing deals and navigating the complexities of game development. The future of the studio and its ambitious project remains to be seen.
