On Steam forum, new Eador team ponders upon quitting the "old" Imperium code/engine and building a whole new game with new code. For a new purchase, I guess. They say they work hard to get the old engine rid of bugs but they "doubt" they shall be capable to do it. The decision should come at September.

Why am I not wondered at all?

New game?? that's not what they say http://snowbirdgames.com/blog/?p=2967

From Russian Steam forum:

http://steamcommunity.com/games/477730/announcements/detail/2523559405398495905

"Ведь переписывание кода требует тратить 100% ресурсов, которые могли бы быть потрачены на новую игру на новом движке."

Translation:

"But rewriting the code demands from us to spend 100% of resources that could be spent on making a new game on new engine"

I think this statement is quite clear and transparent. They would want to drop and to make a new iteration of a serie. For a new payment, isnt' it?