Ann: Ava's Manor Update, page-2

This is always the worry with work for hire. The contract is up and I assume (although not stated) that any royalties will stop also

At the end of all this you have no revenue, no IP and no game code you can adapt for spin offs. The narrative engine developed is a bonus though so something is salvageable.

When you develop own IP you can shutdown active development and still have revenue rolling in. With this no.