Matrix has been hinting that their doing Distant Worlds 2 for like 2 years now. They finally posted and update a few days ago and said their still working on it. That was after at least 6 months of nothing. Paradox is good at announcing games and then giving updates as to content and screenshots. Yes, they always caveat the screenshots as work in progress, but Matrix seems scared to talk about DW2 at all. They have people regularly asking about the game.
That one is another painful one to me. DW was the best 4X game around at the time. There are still things about it I like more than Stellaris. DW2 should have been out a long time ago - but I realize developers, particularly small developers, miss deadlines. I really get the sense though that it doesn't fit the current Matrix/Slitherine business model and I'll be surprised if we ever see it.
Their attempt to transition Distant Worlds 2 to 3D has placed it in development purgatory.
If they'd kept the game 2D, I'm pretty sure it would've released last year already, maybe even back in 2017. Now, though? I honestly doubt we'll see it come out until sometime next decade.
I'm downloading Imperator: Rome now. I did at least get a 15% discount through Green Man Gaming.
I'm hoping they announce Victoria 3 next.
Just play
Stellaris instead. It has the same boring, overly-complex economy now.
(Sigh.)