I was rather delighted to see that my favourite faction will be returning however I also was rather miffed to see that my friends the Ameoba (beautiful ships and very "alien" aesthetic) were relegated to "minor" status and while the Pigrims were less interesting per se, it's nice to have a simple "good" human faction. The Sowers were also the only AI faction; something that I think could add to the universe. Would you like what I said? Or would you prefer to uplift one of the many imaginative minor factions? Or just go for new factions?

I think we are going to get a mix of new and old factions through upcoming expansions, however I suspect there will be slightly more Endless Space 1 factions as they are probably 'safer' in terms of DLC and I can't see Amplitude making a new robotic race for instance, when there are already two ones from Endless Space that could be used. That being said, I do think factions will be as different as possible so I suspect we will get some really creative new races. 

In terms of Endless Space 1 factions there are now six remaining Major Factions that are unplayable in Endless Space 2; the Sherdeyn, Amoeba, Harmony, Sowers, Automatons and Pilgrims. I think we can safely rule out either the Pilgrims or the Sherdeyn getting in as I don't think there will be another 'Human' faction as a DLC, seeing as we already have three; Horatio, the United Empire and the Vaulters. Perhaps the Pilgrims in a race pack like the Vaulters if we got really lucky; but considering how the Sheredyn have been worked in to the United Empire, I think the Sheredyn's chances are non-existant. Likewise, as sad as I am to say this, I don't think we will get two more robotic races through expansions. I do think there is room for one more, seeing as the Riftborn are more extradimensional invaders rather than pure robots, but I don't think we will get both the Automatons and the Sowers. Personally, considering that the Automatons were created by someone else, I wonder if there would be legal barriers to porting them to Endless Space 2, so I think it is more likely we would get the Sowers in an expansion that focused on Mega Structures and Terraforming. 

Considering how unique the Amoeba are, I really hope they will also get in. Considering their diplomatic focus in Endless Space 1, I wonder if they could come in a diplomatic expansion focused on a 'Space UN' or better external politics with more depth to alliances and the like. Finally, while the Harmony are my favourite faction, I don't think they will get in as the devs have hinted that they would be too diffcult to work in, but I shall still hope for them to get in down the line, even if it is in vain (Harmony, please come in an expansion focused on the Academy... please!).
I think it is unlikely we will see any non-ES1 minor factions uplifited; I don't think they are established enough and they lack the 'draw' the ES1 factions have in my opinion. I am interested in the fact that there is not really a pure insectoid race in ES2 at the moment, so I wonder if the Deuyivans or Viruses could fufill that role.

My prediction for future races (Including ones already released) would be:
1. Vaulters Race Pack
2. Hisshio (With Miltary Expansion)
3. Umbral Chior (With Espionage Expansion)
4. Amoeba (With Diplomatic Expansion)
5. Sowers/Automamtons/New Robot Race (With Megastructure Expansion)
6. Insect Race (???)
7. Harmony (With Academy Expansion) (This is also a wild hope rather than an real prediction so feel free to ignore this last one)

We have to take into account the political affiliation of future factions.  The current trend is 2 of each, pacifist, militarist, etc.

If the Umbral Choir turns out to be a Religious faction then the next one will probably be Ecologist, and a returning ES1 faction as to keep with the trend of 1 old then 1 new faction with each expansion.

That means the next returning faction from ES1 is going to be either the Amoeba or the Automatons. 

As much as I love the Harmony, the devs seem to think that they can't retain the "spirit" of the faction if they port it from ES1, which I sort of agree with, as Dust is just too important for a lot of gameplay systems in ES2 like the marketplace, buyouts, maintenance, heroes, trade companies, etc.

If the Harmony were to be added to the game, they would either be waaay too watered down and boring to play, even with a new racial mechanic, or so different that they might as well be a new faction.

The only solution I can see is to make the Pulsos as a  playable race, as they are a dust using faction of the Harmony. 

Factions from ES1 that I don't see returning are the Pilgrims (because of human oversaturation), Sheredyn (because they are technically playable already) and the Harmony (because the devs aren't confident they can be reworked effectively).

As for the Sowers, i'm unsure. I guess it depends on if the Umbral Choir is a Religious faction or not.

Perhaps you're right, I just feel that the sowers in particular would tick all the boxes, they are an entirely robotic faction in an interesting Space Opera universe which lacks any, politically, simple we know they are ecologists. Of couse if the devs where able to make a a different purely robotic faction I'm sure they'd do it well and I'd like it. Just saying the sowers are already there. Also more non bipedal Aliens the St. Pauls Choir will be a good start.

UndeadPuppy wrote:

We have to take into account the political affiliation of future factions.  The current trend is 2 of each, pacifist, militarist, etc.

If the Umbral Choir turns out to be a Religious faction then the next one will probably be Ecologist, and a returning ES1 faction as to keep with the trend of 1 old then 1 new faction with each expansion.

That means the next returning faction from ES1 is going to be either the Amoeba or the Automatons. 

As much as I love the Harmony, the devs seem to think that they can't retain the "spirit" of the faction if they port it from ES1, which I sort of agree with, as Dust is just too important for a lot of gameplay systems in ES2 like the marketplace, buyouts, maintenance, heroes, trade companies, etc.

If the Harmony were to be added to the game, they would either be waaay too watered down and boring to play, even with a new racial mechanic, or so different that they might as well be a new faction.

The only solution I can see is to make the Pulsos as a  playable race, as they are a dust using faction of the Harmony. 

Factions from ES1 that I don't see returning are the Pilgrims (because of human oversaturation), Sheredyn (because they are technically playable already) and the Harmony (because the devs aren't confident they can be reworked effectively).

As for the Sowers, i'm unsure. I guess it depends on if the Umbral Choir is a Religious faction or not.

Sowers are 100% Ecologist if they ever get into the game. The basic Ecologist law was basically their whole gimmick in ES1. And the Ecologist "theme" definitely suits a faction of rogue terraforming AIs. They'd need some major tweaking to turn those food bonuses into something that works with them, but given what they did to the Hissho just now Amplitude clearly isn't against that. 

Amoeba would be Pacifists, obviously.

Well, I'd like to see Automatons back.

https://www.games2gether.com/endless-space-2/ideas/1996-undefined?page=1

Szemis wrote:

I think the most likely ES1 race to ascend to main faction status would be the Amoeba. Not only are they really unique and characterful but they were the pseudo face of ES1, being front and centre on the main art. I would love to see them become a main faction.

Which artwork are you referring to? I don't recall.