I guess ToN will be last product from NLT that is delivered as self contained download with each release. Also, with taking saves into cloud, it opens up market for segregating patrons, so top tier patrons may get in game upgrades that open up extra scenes/fetishes (like extra sex scenes on sofa/swing/gazebo that you buy for enormous gold. All that makes sense as quality of NLT product over grew hobbyist level.We're working on some great new improvements to the game engine as well that will lay the groundwork for an additional online version of the game with cloud saving.
i believe NLT will still maintain free online version of mainstream product lagging it for 2-3 months, to throw a bone to group who will pirate no matter what. That free version should balance between effort needed to extract online game and convert it into local executable (unlikely) as there is better option for technologically savvy pirates, to offer extracted version online as well, to lure folks into their banner mill.
All above is still questionable and will heavy depend on patron reception, quite a few may feel their privacy offended trough using “online” version of the game. Not sure how it is in other word, in the US, persons location can be squared with couple miles accuracy, just by IP alone, which allows mapping it to ZIP code. Also, there are some countries that strictly regulate Internet content outreach, and once ToN endpoints are flagged there, that will impact ability of legit Patrons to access game.