Jar of Sparks, the NetEase-backed studio founded by former Halo Infinite design head Jerry Hook, has paused development on its debut project. The studio is actively seeking a new publishing partner to help realize its vision for a "next-generation narrative-driven action game."

Hook's LinkedIn post confirmed the development halt and the search for a new partner, emphasizing the team's bold creative risks and the strong foundation they've built. While layoffs weren't explicitly stated, a subsequent post indicated the studio would assist team members in finding new roles in the coming weeks.

This news follows a period of relative silence from Jar of Sparks since its 2022 inception. The studio's partnership with NetEase, a major global gaming company currently supporting titles like Once Human and Marvel Rivals, appears to have ended for this particular project. NetEase remains busy with Marvel Rivals, recently launching its Season 1 Battle Pass and preparing for the addition of the Fantastic Four.

The situation at Jar of Sparks mirrors a similar experience for GPTRACK50 Studios, another NetEase-backed studio founded by a veteran game developer (Hiroyuki Kobayashi, formerly of Capcom).

While Jar of Sparks temporarily suspends development, the future of the Halo franchise, Hook's previous employer, appears brighter. Following a period of post-launch challenges for Halo Infinite and mixed reception of the Paramount+ series, 343 Industries' rebranding to Halo Studios and the shift to Unreal Engine suggest a potential resurgence for the franchise.

[See at Official Site]