This game is not dead, Johnster said that beta 1 is releasing before the end of 2024 according to the release plan from progress update #13.
It'll slow down development if you keep commenting about when beta 1 releasing.
Beside there's going to be another development footage this week when Johnster is back home from vacation so it'll be best not to be impatient for an update that is taking too long since now we got SeenWonderAlex and Grandgames working on Beta 1.
Johnster also has IRL stuff which is why beta 1 is taking too long.