[Guvante]

> For instance, the lack of fidelity of the game allows any new character to be added in 2 seconds, yet Rimworld needs a considerable amount of time and effort developing each texture.

This is only true for tiny developers. If you have dedicated artists then you aren't gated in this way as you work in parallel.

[qznc]

If you pay artists, development is expensive. There is pressure to sell and to break even. Is there any game which is developed continuously for years and pays artists?

[Guvante]

Certainly there are a number of AAA games that fit that description.

At this point we are conflating too many topics to really talk clearly. Simplest response would be "you should plan to spend years developing if you want to and if you do you need a budget and a way to fill that budget". See early release games as one example, expansions are an older one.