I agree multiplayer needs to be stable. I think it will be. By May 14th, I don't know. I also agree that releasing with it unstable will lead to some bad press. I have faith that regardless of an official release date I will be playing long multiplayer insane sized games at some point. My biggest concern with that is needing a planet killer to minimize late game management of new unwanted planets. Thats sort of off topic though. All in all If i never played another minute I'd already have gotten more then my monies worth. I know I'll be playing this for years just like the others.

This was answer in last weeks stream. I think Brad said with  the release of a major DLC or expansion pack  around August give or take ...........! 

Yes workshop integration will be the first major patch they said which will focus on mod ding improvements. You won't  have to buy it as dlc or an expansion they alway intended workshop integration.

I am a long-time fan of the series and I've been waiting since the first one for a real multiplayer experience and as such, won't be playing the darn thing until it's stable enough to at least get ten turns in without it diving out to desktop. Just my two cents, but it seems like many people here are underestimating just how many people have been wanting a solid multiplayer GalCiv game, and how disappointed they'll be if the thing releases before it's good and solid. 

I have the utmost confidence in Stardock, one of the few companies that actually handle their age with dignity. In our day and age, that is close enough to divinity. Still time for the Seven Deadly Sins until release though. One for each day! He he.

pffff a successful company such as SD will never be as ignorant as to "shut people up" but instead try to satisfy customer needs. in reality it's a simple equation of being able to make profit from additional customers by adding additional content. and if I see a poster that already bought 5 copies instead of 1 then, IMO, they probably will be very positive on that.