Don't try to build everything everywhere. Dedicate specific cities to Production , Research , or Energy .
Multiplayer is faster and more aggressive than playing against the AI. To survive the early game, keep these tips in mind: Don't try to build everything everywhere
If you’re playing across different stores, ensure "Crossplay" is toggled on in the settings. Don't try to build everything everywhere
Make sure your antivirus isn't blocking the game's network access. Don't try to build everything everywhere