Considering that Sins of a Solar Empire, and Fallen Enchantress both now require Steam I think it's likely GalCiv3 as well. Just more convenient for them to distribute updates over a service 98% of PC gamers already use on a regular basis. Just speculation by me though.

Most likely yes.

SD- try a GoG version down the road. I don't think its a bad idea to have another choice. 

I'd love a non steam version, but it's hardly a deal breaker. I'll use whatever system SD wants if it means i get my hands on GC3!
I LOL at the random facts being thrown about though...98% of PC gamers already use steam!!! Nice joke!

I'll play it on an old ColecoVision if i have too!

I'd rather ask for an OSX or linux version...

Which makes for a very interesting thread... I need to see if anyome has beaten me to it.

Id say , make a computer with a brand new operating system, configured purely and for the sole reason, to run Galactic Civ optimized to the T!

and tbh....i´d prolly buy it.

What I fear is that Steam will become the single point of failure in the gaming industry.

Definition:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_point_of_failure

Basically, if Steam becomes the only digital distribution platform (controlling 90% of the industry likely will get the same results), then it is the single point of failure of the industry. At that point, if anything bad were to happen to Steam, or if Steam were to make a bad decision, then it will affect the whole gaming industry in a bad way. I don't think there is any company ready to take over should Steam fail, or makes most customers leave in disgust.

I have other problems with Steam that I'll likely mention later.

One of the main reasons why SoaSE Rebellion was steam only was to enhance MP...I understand this is GalCiv and thus we have a different crowd, but nevertheless steam offers a lot for MP and I think that is a very important consideration...

That is incorrect as you can have Steamworks but not have the executable CEG encrypted. And you can STILL have multiplayer/Steamworks/etc

As proof look at Dragon Commander. It has both Steam and GOG versions. But

1) If you download the steam version you get the MP and Setamwork benefits (lobbies, inviting friends, achievements etc)

2) However, you can dowload the game via steam, EXIT STEAM, then launch teh game without issue. All this does is grey out any Steamworks integration. But you can still do direct IP connections. Note launching the game exe directly DOES NOT force Steam to launch.

Therefore you can still be DRM free, and still use Steam.

Official Reference

http://www.larian.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=468356

I'd much prefer Stardock to utilize SD Central for GC3. I have Steam, i use it, i just prefer not to when i can. In all cases i buy a physical version of my games (9 times out of 10 anyway) and i will be more disappointed about the lack of a boxed version than i will be having been forced to use steam.
Like i said, Brad could release GC3 on the back of a milk carton and i'd buy it!

To the people who don't like Steam (l'm one of them):

Steam and/or non-Steam - it's Stardock's business decision. To buy or not to buy - that's our, the potential buyers', decision.

Stardock and Steam don't really care whether you buy enthusiastically or grudgingly - all they are interested in is THAT you buy and transfer your money. Nothing wrong with that. But don't forget that it's the paying customers which make Steam big, not the Stardock's of this world.

How about this: Wait until the product is finished, then read reviews and forum posts, play the demo if they make one available, and only then decide about buying. If you are patient, wait for discounts. This is not only common sense, but also a method to at least influence the revenues (even delays matter to the finance guys) although it won't save you from Steam.

Speculation indeed as you are 100% wrong. About the "98%" part.

One of the used arguments if that "What is Steam suddenly booms". Which as unrealistic as it may sound, is still an interesting topic. I'd not trust Steam(Valve) to release patches to your presently installed games (good luck to those with hundreds of games bought, many of which are still unplayed) to remove the Steamworks requirements but I'd trust Stardock to do something about their Steamworks games. Mostly because it's good PR.

Steam making bad decissions that can hurt the gaming industry? May seem unlikely but if EA were to buy Steam, would you still trust them? Or if Bobby Kotick did but it? Change some key players and what you knew becomes unknown.

Stardock was assimilated by the Steam. Resistance is futile. But if you want to make big bucks, you bandwagon. It's a respectable decission and while we are entitled to our opinion, none of us are important enough to tell Brad how to run his company anyway. As long as Stardock makes good games and supports them, I'm willing to deal with any delivery platform of their choice. It doesn't mean I have to like it though.

Steam may not be evil (Apple and Google are way up in the list) but while it offers some nice services, it has it flaws and I would prefer less intrusion (or make it optional). Also, they want money and they do stuff to try to force you to spend money on them. Those sales are psychological warfare, I tell you!!! Steam gets worse when people like Ubisoft forces you to Steamworks and uPlay. Like, seriously? Is it not enough that to play an exe I need to execute another two exes more? To play a single player experience? In which I couldn't care less about Achievements? Forcing me to deal with "oflfine modes" that I shouldn't have to worry about because I never had any interest in all that online stuff*?

Gal Civ III may be Steamworks enabled or only available through Steam but playable without starting Steam. As long as some years later it appears in GoG much like GalCiv I, it'd be nice.

P.S. the reset paswword in this forum seems to send a blank e-mail. WTF? Had to go through Elemental forums to get a functional e-mail with reset link.

* except patches for bug fixes or improvements