As far as I'm aware, the in-game timer for the next season was always "to be announced", leaving the Starship of Terrors bringing a new season as a sudden surprise to me. The most pertinent effect of this is that I have missed some of the previous season's seasonal quests, and evidently a portion of the game's story with them.
#Sudden Season Change and Missed Seasonal Quests
zinc jewel
I notice each season's levelling pass is toggleable from the levelling pass screen; perhaps the active seasonal quests could be based upon the active levelling pass?
latent rampart
The timer was never updated, this is something that was overlooked in season 1. And the loss of story is something that the devs have confirmed is being looked into!
For a temporary solution, I've posted the text from the S1 Questline into a steam guide.
onyx wagon
Yeah, I don't know why they'd ever remove quests. They might change rewards when the season is over, etc, but quests are what have kept me playing as long as I have. When I run out, I'm less likely to play until the next season.
steel ore
There was a timer on the main screen but I guess on the other screen it never updated. :/
It would be interesting to keep quests around forever so that you can keep playing. But then, star captain would be locked behind all of them since it is so closely attached to some story. Something they'd need to think about
zinc jewel
The main screen counted down to the Starship of Terrors release which was marked as such, but the timer for the season pass staying at TBA led me (and undoubtedly others as well) to believe Starship of Terrors would release without bringing a brand-new season with it.