Just played through the first update and made a list of major and minor fixes

Major fixes:

Empire management screen needs to show list of planets like in ES1.  You have planet list when assigning hero, but not in empire screen where it is very much needed.  We need to be able to find best planets for industry, dust etc.  

Empire management screen needs to have an expansion planner.  We need to find best suitable planets in systems that are close to our empire and quickly find unique planet types that have been discovered.

Influence does not update on map.  I captured a system and after 30 turns my AI opponent still holds influence, even though he only has his capital system left. 

System buy out does not seem to work.  It lets you click buyout at cost 1000 I, but system still gets taken over.  This may not be implemented yet?

Political system needs to be better explained.  It leaves me feeling that things are happening within the game that have no relevance.  

Influence is still a major concern.  I am losing star systems as they are just within enemy borders.  I have pushed him back and won every military action for the last 10 turns.  I have destroyed three Arks and yet he is still allowed to seize my border systems.  Populations would not convert to a losing empire so easily when at war.  If you are at war influence needs to be suspended or downscaled.  Lost game at turn 180 due to systems taken over through influence only.  No need for enemy to build fleets, just get enough influence and sit back.  Not good for a 4X game to lose this way.  Could not buy out systems for some reason.  Needs explaining or new players are going to struggle with this concept.  

Empires seem to block up way to early in game.  Like to see more neutral nodes to prevent this type of situation.  I like to use island expansionism, that is at some point in the game I wish to send out an expedition to colonise a remote star system as a foot hold into other empire territory.  Two types of expansions.  Core and island.  See my idea thread regarding 1000 turn single player game mode.  Some systems could be discoverable later during mid game.  They might require a tech era 3 before any of the planets can be colonised.  This would create added gameplay depth for specialised systems.  The galaxy seems to be discoverable to early in the game.  No long term exploration or a sense of discovery past 80 turns.  

Create super large galaxies that are hand crafted or give us the tools to create our own.  This game is thinking to much like multi player and not enough about single player requirements.  Multi player is great if you want quick and fair gameplay.  Single players want scenario driven maps that work better if hand crafted.  A hand crafted massive galaxy would have fixed star positions with unique planets and many choke points.  Different asteroid field types and ship graveyards, empires at different starting age.  Capture derelict ships, obtain planet specific techs when special planets are colonised.  The list is endless as space itself.  I would like to see a selection of hand crafted maps to compliment a variety of game styles. Procedurally generated galaxies are boring and don't get the best out of gameplay.  I would like to create my own galaxy map but need the tools to do it, this is one area for mods that will be essential. 

I will be blunt on this point.  If you do not supply the tools for mods then it will go the same way as ES1.  That is very few mods of any worth.  We need a scenario editor or galaxy creation tool.  Let the fans realise their ideas and the game will have longevity, which translates into sales and good reviews.  Every 4X game in the last ten years has failed in this area, and is always requested by fans that wish to mod.

Optimisation.  Still has unacceptable stuttering or freezing when moving across map or watching battles.  Tried fastest setting but make little to no difference.  I am running a I5 with 8 gig ram and RX270 3 gig AMD card, should be as smooth as butter.  Would like to know if high end pc users have this problem.  

Upon exiting the screen freezes and does not return to windows.  I can not use task manager to close program, it looks like program has closed but menu screen has frozen.  I have to sign out of windows and re sign in to clear it.

Minor fixes:

Move end of battle notification away from centre of screen ( It is redundant anyway as battle summery says the same thing).  I like to watch my ships sail of into the void after they have obliterated a flotilla.  Also add an extra few seconds before screen returns to map.  It can feel a little rushed, after the battle.  

In battle view camera seems to go through meshes in some cases.  Maybe a little to close in flyby.  Could we get some camera angels showing top and bottom shots of the ships in flyby?

Planets with rings show a hideous line through centre of planet in discovery animation.

Independent options for ground and fleet battles.  I like to see the fleet battle but not the ground battle.  Having to set the watch button each time is frustrating.

Allow hero overview screen to both assign skills and assign hero to fleet or planet from the same screen.  

No beginning  of turn notification icon when system is taken over through influence.

Vodyani Ark has no engine sound in battle, this thing should be heard across the system.  Also when one explodes it needs to be massive, like Homeworld 2 mothership explosion, although technically they are not completely destroyed as they are reclaimable.

When attacking Arks with multiple fleets in system the Ark seems to repair itself after each engagement.  Repairs need to take place at end of turn.

Thanks guys, great job so far.  Keep up the good work.

Whoever are designing your ships, they are great, best ships since Homeworld 2.  Go see the boss and get a pay rise.