Any bets on if Providence will return?

[Jenkem Junkie]

I'm hoping they bring him back as a secret boss and give him a unique item like the Halycon Seed and Aurelionite.

[Krausser]

I'm hoping the entire Risk of Rain stage will be back. Got pretty fond memories of god runs ending there, and Providence was an actual good bossfight.

[Billy]

The ror2 crew is looking for the ror1 crew so we may see the final stage from ror1

[The Face]

Would be cool if you could choose to properly end besides just deciding to end yourself

[Magenta Face]

The devs have confirmed long ago in Spring 2019 that Providence will not return since it is canon that he was killed by the 'canon' survivor of RoR1, who I believe is the Commando of the first game.

[Garskii]

Sadly no, the developers confirmed that Providence will NOT be returning. However, we could see some items related to him though!

[Dog]

I always wanted to play as him.

[screeno42]

Originally posted by help me:

Sadly no, the developers confirmed that Providence will NOT be returning. However, we could see some items related to him though!

I believe one of the lunar items references him(I think it's the crown?) or at least, whoever created the planet.

[Yiaz]

Looks like the "Heretic" could be our final opponent of our genocide. Providence is dead, so the Heretic took it's place. It is referenced only on Lunar Item (which were not a thing in RoR1). Though I don't think it will be a survivor, like RoR1, Acrid would be the only playable character "from" the planet.

Brittle Crown description is also very interesting. Is it linked to the heretic? I can't be sure. But it seems it is talking about Providence behavior from the point of view of its brother (?).

It looks like Providence brought all of these different monsters (beatles, lemurians, wisps, clay templars and such) on this planet to save them :
"They were doomed for good reason. Dunepeople of Aphelia: lost, in fanatic worship of parasitic influences. Lemurians: destined to a dead planet, picked clean. Chitin beasts. Automations of death. Why do you bring them home? They were not meant to survive."

Or to enslave them from brother point of view :
"I have watched you for ages, from my dead rock - and every century, you disgust me with vanity. You invite vermin into your home. Wretches. Rats. Monsters. Creatures without restraint. Each and every one, planet killers. And yet, you entertain them as guests. Like children, requiring saving and protection.

She should have died for me. Her gift was wasted on you.

And when will we open discussion - dear brother - of all your thin lies? Why do you forbid your guests to leave? To pilot? Why do you fashion great walls and gates? Why do you weave constructs of destruction, if your role is protection? They are entries in your collection. You slaver. Gatekeeper. Hoarder."

And then the last part of the description is quite telling:
"Your death is fated. When you die - and you WILL die - I will be ready. I have been patient for millennia. That planet... is mine."

There's final boss potential here. Is it the Heretic? Could be. It's quite exciting, we'll see :)

[Yiaz]

Just realized that "I have watched you for ages, from my dead rock" could very likely reference the Moon. So Lunar Items. So the Heretic. Mmmmh

Edit: Sorry if in the end, it's nothing new and it has been already said. I just got excited by this discovery/hypothesis ahah