lmao that should be illegal. Deleting guarantees about your product after people have already bought in. I'd charge back if I supported this (I don't, because it was sus from the start with the cuck wallpaper commissions)
It is actually illegal (in the U.S., where Patreon is located, and thus where payment was made) to remove or fail to honor material software guarantees such as promised features, functionality, or support. This is a breach the Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act and/or the Federal Trade Commission Act against deceptive and unfair practices.
Note that statements like "I will not add, or I will never add" are implicit in this also and considered a feature.
If software is sold with express (written) promises about features or functionality, and those features are removed such that the product no longer conforms to the warranty, that can constitute a breach under federal law. Failing to adhere to specifically stated goals and promises for features (or 'will never contain' promises) likely violates both the Magnuson–Moss Act and the FTC Act when it materially misleads consumers at time of purchase/subscription/fiancial support in any other method than donation.
I am guessing that the reason so many two-faced developers get away with breaking their promises (and trying to erase evidence of them... which is stupid as the internet never forgets), is that the individual claims are relativly small (couple of hundred to a few thousand dollars) and the nature of the material being supported (adult games) isn't something that many supporters are keen to have their real names assoicated with.
All that being said, it is very likely that this practice of 'bait and switch' is not only wrong on principle, but also something that could bring about no small amount of legal trouble.
Source: Look up the Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act and/or the Federal Trade Commission Act. Then read for yourself.
Personal Experience: Not a lawyer, but I AM a Software Engineer with over 25 years of experience and I have seen this exact same situation happen many times.
Probably more but look up;
FTC v. Oracle from about 8-9 years ago. FTC went after them and won under deceptive practices enforcement
FTC v. Innovative Marketing from about 12-13 years ago. FTC went after them for deceptive acts & practices and fined them like $160 million USD.
To be clear, I am not suggesting anything like this with regard to this Dev.
1) the Dev isn't nearly as large in terms of social implact - so it would likely be considered a waste of court time
2) the Dev will almost certainly not have the money to even return what was given to them under the 'false pretenses', let alone pay any kind of government issued fine (it it were even enforcable). So no real reward for punishment other than moral victory.
In cases like this, if you feel the Dev has broken promises and trust (thats a personal choice every player will need to make for there own selves). If you think they are broken their word, just put their name on 'your list' and don't support the Dev ever again (I am not talking about the game, I am talking about the Dev). Games can change, Dev's with a lack of scruples... not likely.
If enough players just ignore them and don't care what they do, there practices and attitudes will eventually eat themselves into nothingness.
It sucks, but it's not worth raising your bloodpressure over.
Edited to clarify a point and correct my crappy ESL.
