For various reasons (as outlined below), as of the chapter 3 full release, inter-chapter version releases will be exclusive to VIP DLC holders and higher level Patreon subscribers. It's not a decision I have made lightly but it's a necessary change to keep the game alive.
Why?
Funding:
AAA titles get up front investment to create their games. That's simply not the case with AVN games. The only funding is via crowdfunding donations (Patreon etc) and game sales. If the amount of income does not exceed the expenditure (assets and rendering cost money) then a project is no longer financially viable and may stop production.
I can honestly say, without the VIP DLC, 'This Time' would not be a viable platform any more and would have already ceased to exist.
This change will further incentivise purchases of the VIP DLC and reward those who already have it without taking any content away from the base game. I am confident that these changes will be enough to help keep the project alive and keep enough money coming in to allow us to complete the game.
Thanks to everybody for your support and I hope that you can get behind these changes for the good of the project and we can all continue to enjoy the gripping story.