You were correct. We've passed 1 year and 8 months since DC alleged work has started. In Feb-2021 he said he is already working on things for the tech update (enlarged map). On 14-Feb-2021 he said he hired 2 new devs to replace a departing one and that "we should be moving on to the following tech update". Here:
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However, there is no recording with this thing working in any capacity, not alpha, not demo, not anything. The code is open due to how Ren'Py works so once the delay started to become ridiculous (i.e. about a year ago), a show of good will would've been to literally show the code and an incomplete demo (alpha) with what has been done so far with the blown out budget. It's what regular devs do often but there was none of that here. I'm familiar with how these projects go IRL. There will be no tech update. Just a bunch of wallpapers worth $1.4 million and rising.