Other marketplaces frequently make e-mails or notifications available for when games released or on a sale. Is there any such feature on itch? If so, where? If not, I think it would be quite nice! I'd like to be up to date on the games I've been hoping to pick up!

We do have automated notification emails that go out. We have sale announcements and update emails that go out. Additionally you can follow people to get posts in your feed about updates.