Chinese video game developer Studio Siphon made an announcement on June 13 regarding a recent crowdfunding drive for the enigmatic Project GT, a 3D anime-styled action racing game. In a statement posted on bilibili, the studio clarified that the Kickstarter campaign was a fraudulent endeavor carried out by an unrelated third party.
The Kickstarter campaign began on May 12 and quickly met its initial funding target by June. By the time it concluded, it had garnered attention from various Japanese media outlets, such as Game*Spark, and the upcoming game gained widespread popularity on social media. A significant portion of the excitement stemmed from the game’s concept of race cars personified as charming anime girls, drawing comparisons to Umamusume: Pretty Derby. The Kickstarter page also claimed that the development team had prior experience at major studios including miHoYo, Tencent, and NetEase, making the project sound highly promising.
However, multiple inconsistencies in the campaign, such as a dubious trailer featuring inaccurate AI narration, suggested it might be a hoax. Studio Siphon, the actual creators of Project GT, later confirmed this suspicion, stating they had no affiliation with the Kickstarter organizers. It was revealed that all the development footage showcased on the platform was prototype data from an early business plan that was illicitly used without the developers’ consent.
The studio has already lodged a formal complaint with Kickstarter and is working to have the project’s page removed from the site (as of now, the page remains accessible). According to Game*Spark, all media outlets that reported on the Kickstarter campaign were requested to retract their articles to prevent further confusion.
On a positive note, Studio Siphon has affirmed that Project GT is a legitimate project and that development is actively progressing. Although the game’s official unveiling may still be some time away, the development team has pledged to “continue focusing on enhancing the game’s quality to meet players’ expectations.” Additional details about the project will be shared exclusively on the studio’s bilibili page.
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