343 Industries Freezes Project Assembly Following Halo Infinite Launch

Jar of Sparks, NetEase's Studio, Pauses Development on Debut Title; Seeks New Publisher

Jerry Hook, former design lead for Halo Infinite, announced that his studio, Jar of Sparks, a NetEase subsidiary, has temporarily halted development on its inaugural game project. Hook, who left 343 Industries and Microsoft in 2022 to establish Jar of Sparks, described the project as a "next-generation narrative-driven action game." The studio's recent silence indicated potential challenges, now confirmed by their search for a new publishing partner. The team aims to find a collaborator who can fully realize their creative vision.

NetEase, a prominent global video game company, currently supports live-service titles Once Human and Marvel Rivals. The latter, released in December 2024, recently launched its Season 1 Battle Pass and is gearing up for the addition of the Fantastic Four on January 10th.

Hook's LinkedIn post confirmed the development pause, stating the team would be exploring new opportunities. A subsequent post clarified that the studio would assist team members in finding new roles as the first project concludes over the coming weeks. While layoffs weren't explicitly mentioned, the implication is clear. This situation mirrors the experience of Hiroyuki Kobayashi, former Resident Evil producer, who also formed a studio (GPTRACK50) under NetEase in 2022.

The Halo franchise, Hook's previous domain, has faced challenges recently, including mixed reception for Halo Infinite's post-launch content and the Paramount+ series. Meanwhile, 343 Industries' rebranding to Halo Studios and the shift to Unreal Engine for future titles may signal a potential resurgence for the franchise. Jar of Sparks' temporary hiatus provides a parallel narrative to the evolving landscape of the Halo universe.

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