# Dark Skyes

> non-existent video game and hoax

**Wikidata**: [Q111725372](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q111725372)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/dark-skyes

## Summary
Dark Skyes was a non-existent video game and hoax marketed as an epic dating sim and role-playing game (RPG) intended for the "brony" fandom. Although a crowdfunding campaign was launched on Kickstarter in 2014 promising an open-world experience across major operating systems, the project was ultimately canceled and never released. It is officially classified as a cancelled video game and a hoax.

## Key Facts
- **Entity Type:** Non-existent video game, cancelled/unreleased video game, and hoax.
- **Genre:** Dating sim and Role-playing video game (RPG).
- **Target Audience:** Bronies (adult fans of *My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic*).
- **Game Mechanics:** Featured open-world gameplay.
- **Intended Platforms:** Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- **Funding Model:** Crowdfunding via Kickstarter.
- **Campaign Timeline:** Ran from March 6, 2014, to April 5, 2014.
- **Funding Status:** Canceled; raised $4,161 USD in pledges before cancellation.
- **Language:** English.

## FAQs
### Q: Was Dark Skyes a real video game?
A: No, Dark Skyes is classified as a non-existent video game and a hoax. While it had a planned release for Windows, macOS, and Linux, the project was never completed or released to the public.

### Q: What was the purpose of Dark Skyes?
A: The project was presented as an "epic brony dating sim" combining dating simulation with role-playing game mechanics in an open world. It specifically targeted the "brony" community.

### Q: Did Dark Skyes receive any funding?
A: Yes, the project launched a Kickstarter campaign seeking crowdfunding. It accumulated $4,161 USD in pledges before being canceled on April 5, 2014.

## Why It Matters
Dark Skyes serves as a notable case study in the risks associated with crowdfunding and niche marketing within the video game industry. Its significance lies in its classification not merely as "vaporware" (software that is announced but never released), but explicitly as a hoax—an intentional deception regarding the existence or intent of the product. The project targeted a specific subculture, the "bronies," promising a specialized gaming experience that combined dating sim elements with open-world RPG mechanics.

The incident highlights the volatility of pre-production game funding, where projects can attract financial backing ($4,161 in this case) based solely on concept and marketing without a deliverable product. The campaign's specific timeline—launching March 6, 2014, and ending April 5, 2014—illustrates a rapid cycle of hype and cancellation. By analyzing Dark Skyes, researchers and gamers gain insight into the complexities of fan culture economics and the importance of due diligence in crowdfunding environments.

## Notable For
- Being explicitly categorized as a **hoax** rather than just a failed project.
- Targeting the **brony** subculture with a dedicated dating simulation.
- Attempting to combine **open-world** mechanics with a **dating sim** genre.
- Running a crowdfunding campaign that achieved **$4,161** in pledges despite being non-existent.
- Planning a simultaneous release across **three major operating systems** (Windows, macOS, Linux).

## Body
### Project Conception and Genre
Dark Skyes was announced as a video game project intended to blend the genres of dating simulation and role-playing. The title was aimed at the "brony" demographic, a subculture interested in the *My Little Pony* franchise.

According to available data, the game utilized crowdfunding as its primary funding scheme. The project was distinct in its ambition to offer "open world" game mechanics, a feature relatively uncommon in traditional dating simulators.

### Development Status and Hoax Classification
Despite the announced plans, Dark Skyes is definitively classified as a "non-existent video game" and a "hoax." The game was never released and is categorized as a cancelled project.

The intended technical reach was broad, with plans to support:
*   **Microsoft Windows** (family of computer operating systems developed by Microsoft)
*   **macOS** (operating system for Apple computers)
*   **Linux** (family of Unix-like operating systems)

### Crowdfunding Campaign
The project's financial history is documented through its Kickstarter campaign. The campaign was active for approximately one month in early 2014.

*   **Campaign ID:** 2110528317 (titled "Dark Skyes -- an EPIC brony dating sim")
*   **Start Date:** March 6, 2014
*   **End Date:** April 5, 2014
*   **Funds Pledged:** $4,161 (USD)
*   **Outcome:** The campaign was canceled by the creator on the end date, and the game was never developed.