Hello, I wanted to ask the community some questions about the kind of business model they like on Itch. Especially when taking into account release schedules and platforms.

1. When you buy a game on itch, do you wishlist the game on Steam ?
2. Do you expect your bought game on itch to be supported long term and include all future additions ?
3. How do you feel about paid expansions to a cheaper base game ?

We're thinking about maybe releasing an early access version first on itch to get community feedback and then release on Steam, but we would prefer if people wishlist and buy the game on Steam to further improve our chance to get recommended by the Steam algorithm. We're trying to find a business model that fits all requirements and pleases our players.

Any feedback and comments is appreciated. Thank you !

You do realize you can release on both, and people that bought on Itch can be given a complementary Steam key?

https://itch.io/games/steam-key

Do you expect your bought game on itch to be supported long term and include all future additions ?

Uhhhhhm. Yes? Why is this a question. If you release a digital retail version of a game on a platform, it is expected to have the updates for said retail version included that would be included on every other platform as well. 

If you release an early access version here, just make to sure to be specific what people will get. As long as you have not "released", it does not matter much. After release, Steam will have terms that will make you have same minimum price on all platforms. And if you plan to release on Steam and advertise as such, be specific, if a future Steam key will be included or not.

If you offer pay what you want, any payment will make a buyer eligible to download the project, even after a price change to minimum price. Which might be intended by the publisher, to reward the early supporters with basically a discount.

How do you feel about paid expansions to a cheaper base game

Depends. A lot. Mostly it depends upon the base game being a finished product or if it is basically unplayable without the dlcs and could be considered a bait.

People that like a game usually are inclined to try out or buy a sequel. An expansion is a kind of sequel. A loot box is not.

People who buy on Itch usually do so because they want the game DRM free, there are people who just don't like the Steam client.
It doesn't matter if you release the game on Itch and/or Steam, the people who will buy it expect a full game with full support.

Personally, people who only release a demo or alpha version on Itch and then release the final version only on steam. I don't buy anything from them, as I perceive that they only come to Itch to take advantage of getting views and not to form a community.
Note that I am talking about people who only release the full version on steam. Different from starting the game on Itch and then ALSO porting it to Steam.

I have no problem paying for an expansion, however, I do have a problem with the abuse of this model.
If you sell a game at full price, I expect a full game, if you then add additional content, I don't mind paying.
The problem I have is if you take a full game and mutilate it to sell as full price expansions and thus milk the users.

so.
1- NO

2- YES

3- Depends

It totally depends honestly. But on Steam I expect fully fleshed out games, while I see many Indie-Games on Itch. - And this is why I am here and not on Steam, because I like Selfpublisher. I expect most of them to maybe be a bit wonky. --- If they charge "full price" I expect a fleshed out game with support and all, but I think I would buy these on Steam rather than here. - But if it only charges 1-5 Dollars (or maybe even 10 dollars for games that can be played more than an hour), I am not complaining if some mechanics do not feel professional.