Studio founded by Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies veteran, overseen by NetEase, shuts down prior to launching its first game.

In a series of recent developments, Chinese gaming giant NetEase has announced the closure of two Western studios - T-Minus Zero Entertainment and Jerry Hook's Jar of Sparks. This marks the third closure of a Western studio by NetEase in the past year.

T-Minus Zero Entertainment, a first-party studio founded by veteran MMO developer Rich Vogel in 2023, was based in Austin, United States. The studio was developing an all-new third-person online multiplayer action game set in a sci-fi universe. Unfortunately, NetEase has ended funding for T-Minus Zero, citing a need to reassess business priorities.

Rich Vogel, the founder of T-Minus Zero, announced the closure on LinkedIn. He urged other industry people on the platform to reach out if they had openings to share. The studio's game, which had generated significant interest, will not be released due to current market conditions.

Vogel has a history of working at companies including Bethesda, BioWare, Sony Online Entertainment, EA, and 3DO. T-Minus Zero was funded by NetEase but has not released any games during its tenure.

NetEase has also ended funding for Jerry Hook's Jar of Sparks, another studio project. No further information about the status of this project has been provided. The closure of Jerry Hook's Jar of Sparks is the latest in a series of closures by NetEase of Western studios.

In addition to these closures, NetEase has laid off the Marvel Rivals development team in Seattle and ended funding for the Marvel Rivals project. Development for Marvel Rivals is being consolidated in China to optimize development efficiency. The Marvel Rivals project, like T-Minus Zero's game, will not be released due to current circumstances.

NetEase initially stated it was working with the studio to find a new publishing home, but subsequently confirmed it had ended funding for both T-Minus Zero and Jerry Hook's Jar of Sparks.

These closures come as a blow to the gaming industry, particularly in the Western market, where NetEase has been making significant investments in recent years. The reasons behind these closures are not entirely clear, but they serve as a reminder of the ever-changing landscape of the gaming industry.

Studio founded by Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies veteran, overseen by NetEase, shuts down prior to launching its first game.