[Edi]

Calmon: Release date is end of August, development has been going on for a good while (since late last year). Yes, they still have regular jobs. Bruce Geryk is doing the manual for Dominions 4 and I'm in charge of the supplementary manuals (modding, mapmaking).

Stryke11: Desura is analogous to Steam as a digital distribution service, but gives you more control. You can install games through the Desura client, which is similar to the Steam client. However, you are not required to use it and can download standalone installers so it's just as if you had installed from CD (only no CD, just the installer file).

I use the standalone installers myself, I don't like extra client programs cluttering up my system. The forums at Desura are technically inferior to most phpbb boards and places like this, but they do the job in a pinch.

I expect that Illwinter will try to get Dominions 4 on Steam, but initially it will be published through Desura and probably Gamersgate.