The Chinese technology gaming giant NetEase is set to orchestrate a brand-new US development studio called Jar of Sparks, and they have Xbox veteran Jerry Hook leading them to potential glory.
The new studio will be set up in Seattle, with the mission being “to create a new generation of narrative-driven action games,” and by enlisting the expertise of the famed Xbox veteran, this new company has a good chance of reaching those goals.
Jerry Hook is a man that loyal Xbox gamers will know all too well; he helped launch the original Xbox and was one of the original members of Xbox Live. Hook has also held executive roles across the Halo and Destiny franchises – talk about a wealth of knowledge.
Helping Hook with this new Seattle-based studio will be creative director Paul Crocker, a man who was a leading figure in creating the narratives for the Arkham Trilogy, before moving over to Warner Bros. Games Montreal, and then 343 Industries.
The talent doesn’t end there though because the new executive producer of Jar of Sparks is the former producer of Doom and Halo Infinite, Greg Stone. Joining the group is gameplay director Steve Dyck, another man who was key in the production of the Halo series as well as NBA Street.
About this new studio, Jerry Hook said:
“We have built games for some of the biggest companies in gaming, and now it’s time to take a shot at putting our own personal lightning in a bottle. We want to create something new, and innovative and that’s a blast to play.”
He went on to say:
“When looking to create a new studio the most critical part of finding the right partner was being aligned on the fundamental goals of having the freedom to take innovative risks and to put the passion of our creators first. NetEase came to the table with a strong creative first approach; they demonstrated the same passion we have for our players and building new experiences that we believe players are looking for.”