What is with the galaxy? No populated systems?

[Jason S]

The last great expansion was driven by the Empire. Since then, humanity has more than enough resources to sustain itself where it is; so there has been no need to expand.
Think of it as the same reason why there aren't houses all over the Australian outback.

There are not houses all over the Australian desert as it is rather dry. But I am sure rich corporations would be eager to take control of other earth likes all over the galaxy and put people there given that you have Anaconda sized ships that can get there easily and can carry enough in one trip to create a small habitat.

 

[Ixnatifual]

I think 100k inhabited systems is plenty. I'll never visit them all anyway. Of course it will be interesting when we start seeing systems inhabited by Thargoids and possibly other alien civilizations

 

[drholliday]

Civilization isn't spread out in the Galaxy. For all we know at the moment the populated part is roughly a bubble of 500Ly around Sol. There's obviously more to it because of Thargoids(tm). If you travel to the galactic core you will certainly not run into any kind of life. A lot of CMDRs have been there.

That said. Even though it probably looks like every system is already discovered we have only tagged a rather tiny fraction of the galaxy and there are not just systems but also entire sectors that are locked from access atm.