This update will see the game make the transition from DirectX 9 to DirectX 11: "DX11 will significantly boost FPS performance on modern hardware and will give us a path for further optimization in the future."

It will also introduce a new faction to the game:

Nanite Systems Operatives will also arrive. For the first time ever, a new faction is being added to PlanetSide 2! These robotic mercenaries will fight alongside the lowest populated empire in any zone. This means you won’t have to wait to join the action on an active continent as long as it’s not completely full. For now, the NS Operatives system will only be available to members (we don’t want to see PlanetSide 2 turn into RobotSide overnight).

The devs have also confirmed that they will focus on revamping the new player tutorials next:

PlanetSide 2 can be a challenging game to get ramped up on. Revamping the new player tutorials is the team’s next focus, but there is no better introduction to PlanetSide 2 than the helping hand of an experienced player. One of the small changes we’ve made will automatically place low BR players into Mentor squads when they log into the game. We’d love to see seasoned players start Mentor squads and be ambassadors to new players. Show them where the fights are, what to spend their first certs on, and how to drop in behind enemy lines from a high-flying Galaxy.

UPDATE:

PlanetSide 2 - Introducing Nanite Systems Operatives