Normally, I'm all for communication, but this is one of those rare cases where saying nothing would probably be better than trying to set any expectations.
I appreciate what you're trying to do, and believe that you've made it your mission to bring this thing back from the dead. The problem is, you're communicating on behalf of someone who has a well-documented history of flagrantly lying when setting dates and goals. They also have a history of moving the goalposts so shamelessly that they'll do it every 3 months for years at a time.
You've now hitched your reputation to the hope that they'll finally put in the work necessary for a substantial release, half a decade after they last demonstrated any work ethic or motivation whatsoever. It would be objectively better for the game's reputation if there were no dates, previews, or expectations, and then a huge release came out. That would also protect people like you in case leopards actually can't change their spots.
But we all know the reason ICSTOR publicly makes these promises and sets these dates. Most people don't believe him, so more talk does nothing for his reputation as a dev. What it really does is get the most gullible, sunk cost fans to throw more money at it. And, if I were you, that would be concerning. Because that means he's more focused on doing what he's always done (hyping up some patreon money) than he is about improving the game's reputation. So, when ICSTOR inevitably disappears right before you and the rest of the crew expect him to release your work, whose reputation will be damaged the most?
