Simple! they are not paying for a game.
They like the game that Dark Cookie produced and is showing their support by becoming a Patreon. So they are supporting the developer.
In an interview Dark Cookie said there's no hard ending to the game and content can be added down the road if people wanted it, so the game will only end when Dark Cookie is no longer with us on this mortal plain (even then someone might take over and continue adding content to the game).
Honestly, it feels like this is all just smart business. A lot of fans are shelling out money not just to support future updates but to vote on new characters and content. He's clearly tapping into people's eagerness to see more of their favorite characters by monetizing their votes, which is pretty clever when you think about it.
It’s wild how some fans will go to bat for this game no matter what. But let's be real, the last time we saw any exciting new content was back in 2019, and things have kind of spiraled downward since COVID hit.
Of course, he's not about to wrap up the game when it's paying his bills and helping him take care of his kids. Ending the game would cut off a steady flow of Patreon cash.
Still, he could’ve done so much more with the game—expand the stories, beef up other characters, mix in some crossovers, or roll out new spots to explore. The Ren'Py engine isn’t that complex, and this latest tech update doesn’t really add up. Take Monster Girl Dream, for instance. It runs on the same engine and has a whole combat and RPG setup, loads of locations and characters, and keeps things fresh with unique twists. And that’s all being pulled off by just one developer and one writer who make way less money, yet they manage to drop consistent updates without taking years.
So really, what’s stopping Dark Cookie from stepping up his game with all the resources he’s got?