They have not announced any but the lack of planets is a bit unfortunate. But many modders have changed this. Many mods out there have more planet types.

More planet types like Water, Rock, Forest, Jungle, and Ecumenopolis are definitely needed, and Gas Giants, one of the most prominent planetary types in both sci-fi and reality, need to be more prevalent and useful.

Perhaps we should make our thoughts known to the Dev's,hmm?

In-game map maker, you can specify what type and how many. No need to wait for an expansion.

Its really sad that this feature doesnt get used more via ICO. Since these maps auto transfer it would be an easy way to make a 'semi balanced' random map.

There are some flaws with planet placements with map maker, like HW are usualy near the edge of the Star system and tend to have just 1 or 2 phase lanes, Ive not played with it much but there might be a way to fix that.

Also I am certaint that it gives you a roid 1 jump away from your HW no matter the map layout.

There is always an asteroid and either a volcanic or ice planet next to your homeworld.  USUALLY they have a phase lane connecting them directly to your homeworld, but I have seen it many times myself where there isn't one and even though it's right there next to you, you have to take the long way around.

A King of the Hill concept? I like that idea.

Yes to adding at least 1 type of new planet to the game.

That would be great, but it's probably too much to ask for.

Yeah ocean planet would be cool, not 100% water, but like 90% or so, lower pop than terran etc.  Jungle planet would also be nice.

Unique homeworlds would be awesome. Advent would definitely feel more balanced if they had extra logistics at their home. 

And of course fix some MP features related to map (Like good stock maps for team play) and bring back the resource option!  Resource option was great! (Back in the day you could set low resource - neutral start with 1 mine, asteroids 2, medium - neutrals 2 mines, asteroids 3, and high - neutrals 3 mines asteroids 4, and of course random which is what it is today)

actually galactic civilization 2 has most planet types if not all: Toxic, Aquatic, Gas, green, ..um forgot the rest. 

Throwin' in my support, too.

SOASE needs more planet types... you wouldn't even have to change the tech trees. You could make new types just subsets of existing types. Ie: Rock would be a more habitable subset (and hence unlocked by) volcanic colonization, etc. Just more variety to look at, and extra little perks (and flaws!) inherent in the world themselves would add a lot to the game.

And triple to Gas-Giants! They should be made useful: Trade bonuses (via star base trade capability!), higher crystal extraction on orbiting extractors (many gas giants have crystals floating around in them, just look at Uranus and Neptune!), gravity issues that make it harder or more erratic to move around in the grav-well, the ability to build TWO star bases, maybe make gas-giants similar to Dead-Asteroids, so that you can claim them and build tactical structures, etc, etc, etc!

Just... something.

While we're at it, let's not forget about debris fields and plasma storms and the like, either. Honestly, I'd like to see individual planets worth more, but have less of them - while adding a lot more of the various fields and what not with interesting aspects to them - they'd make for great battlefields and ambush sites and what have you. Having 90,000 planet(oid)s around a single star is a bit insane. More stars, less but more valuable planets, more random fields and the like!

/soapbox

-Itharus

I second that idea, it's great.