Startup Dictionary
Vaporware
Definition
Software or hardware that has been advertised but is not yet available to buy, either because it is only a concept or because it is still being written.
Deep Dive
Vaporware refers to hardware or software products that are publicly announced or extensively advertised, often with great fanfare, but are never actually released to the market, or are released significantly later than promised, sometimes with reduced functionality. The term typically implies that the product exists primarily in concept or as a prototype, if at all, and is used to generate excitement, deter competitors, or manage customer expectations without a concrete, deliverable product readily available for purchase.
Examples & Use Cases
- 1Duke Nukem Forever, famously in development for over a decade before its eventual release
- 2Star Citizen, a crowdfunded game that has been in alpha for many years with no full release in sight
- 3Several promised features for operating systems or game consoles that never materialized after initial announcements.
Related Terms
ShelfwareBeta SoftwareOver-promising