Multiplayer is slow, but really fun.

Don't use random maps as AI placement on them sucks.

Love the new operations points settings for buildings and slots for the planets. However, if I build any labs on an asteroid place, there is no way to fill up all the slots unless I go all labs.

The cultural stuff was completely useless to have in the game. Computer never researched it. I never needed to build it. It was too expensive to build it for what limited use I would have gotten out of it.

Pirates are way overpowered now. Pirates were more of a threat than the AI on hard.

When starting a game, we still need access to the global chat room outside the game, as well as just the in-game chat room. Otherwise, it is hard to coordinate getting people to join.

Other than that, it is great so far. Will post more after a few more games.