I would guess, by the introduction of the americas, that the expansion or expansions will be based on the americas. Factions could be, England, France, Spain, Portugal, Holland as a start and then add a few native american tribes.

I am thinking somethink in the line of Sids Colonization.
the modding concept could be amazing, we could have one based on the carribbean, american rev, civil war etc..... And that not taking into account south america.