Hey there! I'm really sorry to hear about all the stress with Itch. It's a real shame the platform is leaving creators hanging like this. I bought the game here years ago (back in 2023), and luckily, I just managed to recover my download link and receipt.
Since I don't use Patreon or Discord, sending a DM there isn't really an option for me. However, seeing that verifying purchases and sending links manually is going to be an absolute nightmare for you guys, I did a little digging into how other devs have handled this and found a few options that might save you some time:
- Itch's "Email Owners" tool / CSV Export: Even if the page is demonetized, I believe the creator dashboard still allows you to export the buyer email list or send a mass email to previous buyers. You could write a single email to everyone who paid and include a hidden Drive/Mega link directly, saving you from verifying DMs one by one.
- 100% Discount Coupons: Using that same buyer list, you could email us a 100% off coupon to redeem the full version on whatever alternative storefront you move to in the future (like Steam, GOG, etc.).
- Itch Download Keys: Echoing what another user suggested below, if you generate and send out those free keys, the game stays linked to our current itch accounts and updates automatically.
I'll keep an eye out for whatever you decide or if you end up posting an official email so I can send my screenshot.
On another note, as a friendly suggestion, have you ever considered expanding the game's languages? As a native Spanish speaker, I can tell you there is a huge audience in my region that loves these types of games, but many miss out because they don't understand English well enough to fully enjoy the story. I'd love to contribute and lend a hand with a Spanish translation in my free time if you'd be open to it. Just putting the idea out there!
Best of luck with Episode 9, all the new content sounds absolutely amazing!