Halo Franchise Shifts Focus to Ongoing Support, Suspending New Game

Jar of Sparks, NetEase-Backed Studio, Pauses First Game Project, Seeks New Publisher

Jerry Hook, former design lead for Halo Infinite, announced that his studio, Jar of Sparks, has temporarily halted development on its debut project. The studio, established in 2022 under the NetEase umbrella, was aiming to deliver a "next-generation narrative-driven action game." However, the team is now actively searching for a new publishing partner to help realize its creative vision.

NetEase, a prominent global video game company, currently supports live-service titles like Once Human and the recently launched Marvel Rivals. The latter's successful launch and upcoming Season 1 Battle Pass, along with the anticipated arrival of the Fantastic Four, showcase NetEase's commitment to its live-service portfolio.

Hook's LinkedIn post confirmed the development pause, emphasizing the studio's bold approach and innovative goals. While layoffs weren't explicitly mentioned, a subsequent post indicated the team will assist its members in finding new opportunities over the coming weeks as the first project concludes. This isn't NetEase's first collaboration with a veteran developer; former Resident Evil producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi also founded GPTRACK50 Studios under NetEase in 2022.

The Halo franchise, Hook's previous domain, has faced challenges recently, including mixed reception to 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 Halo titles signal a potential resurgence for the franchise. As Jar of Sparks takes a breather, the future of both the studio and the Halo series remains to be seen.

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