They haven't really said anything. Because it depends on how well FE sells, probably. There was a post hinting that they would face a choice between multiplayer and expanding mod support, so it is definitely something they are thinking about.

Adding multiplayer post-release is going to be a nightmare probably. In the past Stardock has shown minimal if any support for multiplayer. Good lord did anyone try it in the original Elemental 0_o? Its a real shame since I've put countless hours into Civ4 with friends and I wish I could do the same with Fallen Enchantress. It will still be a good single player game at least. Originally they claimed FE would have multiplayer, then they claimed they would add it post release, then it became a 'maybe' in a future expansion, now its only silence. If the game isn't originally setup for multiplayer components then you can expect it to desync often, heck my game loads different than it was saved in single player all the time! Also I can't even imagine how buggy the tactical battles would be with more than one player considering the current state of affairs.

Damn, it needs multiplayer to sell to my friends...... Guess I'll have to buy them a copy each, so they can start training for the MP matches later to come. Perhaps those extra sales can give us excactly that; Multiplayer!

Edit: One thing is clear, even though I play the heck out of this game already, its longlevity will improve alot with MP. Nowadays I only play 3 games, and FE is the only one I still enjoy to play SP. Europa Universalis 3 and Civ 5 are the two others, but I only play them MP nowadays. That doesent mean I don't play those games atleast on a weekly basis, because I do.

Galactic Civs II would be up there among those still most played too, if it only had MP. It's one of the best games ever made, but not playing it much anymore despite its respectable AI. If it had MP it would still be my most played game.

I look forward to a 6 player game, FFA, large map, with me and 2 friends as the Kingdoms, you and 2 friends as the Empires. Some sunny day, my friend, some sunny day our dreams come true.....

A noisy minority I hope! I have the same problem (I already gifted a copy of Elemental to my best friend, but I can't buy it to ALL my LAN's companions)

AI is limited. So single-player players give limited feedback. Multiplayer is much better in finding strategies, exploits, etc. So multiplayer players give good feedback: strategies, exploits, balance, etc. Multiplayer is needed to improve balance and AI in game.

I would like to have multiplayer very much, I've bought two copies of Elemental with 1 more being bought for christmas (all for myself & family), I've got 3 friends and my brother I'd like to buy a copy for but will not until we get multiplayer as this is the only reason they would start playin this or any 4x - a total of 7 copies to be bought by one multiplayin fella, surely this has to add a percentage to the multiplayer polls

this same group (plus/minus a couple) has played Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Age of Wanders Shadow, Wesnoth, Nabungas Ambition, Genghis Kahn, & several others together - they are a big reason I spend 100's if not literal 1000's of hours making/balancing/testing maps

I view multiplayer players as 'sellsmen'

Wait what?

I do hear you though, the randomness I can deal with when playing multiplayer, if nothing else I just die and take a break

Sincerely
~ Kongdej

There goes the last bridge....

How open-minded.

Sincerely
~ K

Nope the wait is done... check the changelog for .984

Man, not the best way to get the devs to listen... just sayin'.

Civility in multiplayer.  Your imagination astounds me.