Speaking of which, here's a 2-hour-long video of game director Steven Muray (along with community manager Mordred Viking) playing around with said beta:
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1620383841Looking at ship design, a notable addition is the new Frigate ship type, which is specifically intended as a mobile torpedo platform, meant to deal lots of damage at short range. I also note -- with a certain amount of delight -- that we'll be able to designate specific roles when designing ships (Screen, Gunship, Artillery, Brawler, etc.). There are a couple new weapons to complement these roles as well.
There are now minimum ranges on most long-range weapons (missiles, neutron launchers, etc.) so that it will be possible for ships with the Gunship/Brawler role (plus those Torpedo Frigates) to get inside those weapons' ranges. Ergo, artillery-focused Battleships should should finally be somewhat vulnerable in combat, and their long-held dominance of the battlefield challenged.
Traditions/Ascension: The four Ascension Paths (Cybernetic, Genetic, Psionic, & Synthetic) have been added as their own Tradition Trees. There is also a new Politics Tradition Tree being added, with the tree being focused on increasing your empire's abilities & power within the Galactic Community. Finally, adopting & completing the Harmony Traditions grants you access to the new "Holy Covenant" -- spiritualist empires finally get their own federation type!