Halo Infinite design lead's studio "halting" its first project due to lack of funding

by Danny Craig  · 
Halo Infinite design lead's studio "halting" its first project due to lack of funding
Jar of Sparks

Jar of Sparks, a NetEase studio founded by Halo Infinite's head of design Jerry Hook, has announced that it will halt development of its first game while it seeks a new publishing partner.

The details:

  • The AAA Seattle-based developer was founded in 2022 and aimed to create "a new generation of narrative-driven action games." Although little was revealed about its first project, parent company NetEase stated that the studio featured a "team of industry veterans who have worked on some of the biggest franchises in video game history," including Doom 2016 producer Greg Stone and Batman Arkham narrative director Paul Crocker.

  • However, in a new LinkedIn post, Hook confirmed that Jar of Sparks is "halting work" on the game to find a new publishing partner to fund its development. “Earlier today, we notified our team that Jar of Sparks will be halting work on our current title as we search for a new publishing partner who can help bring our creative vision to life,” Hook wrote. “Throughout this journey, our passionate, driven, and innovative team took bold risks and pushed boundaries, striving to create something truly new and exciting for the industry. We couldn’t be prouder of the groundwork we’ve laid together.”

  • Hook also shared that the studio's employees can seek employment elsewhere. In a follow-up post, the designer stated that those affected will receive assistance with their job search in the coming weeks.

  • Jar of Sparks is yet another NetEase studio that has lost funding in recent months, following Mass Effect veteran Mac Walters' announcement in November that Worlds Untold would "pause operations" while it looked for a business partner. NetEase has continued to withdraw funding and reduce its investments over the last year, leading to the closure of Visions of Mana developer Ouka Studios, with the game's director joining Square Enix.

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