Generally, when is mid-game considered to start

[swurplayer]

I know it's going to be somewhat subjective, but what game conditions constitute mid-game?

[Rebelkid]

Depends really, I play on very slow research. So mid-game for me usually starts when Gerax Hyperdrive is researched and most of the empires around me having 4-5 + colonies.

[Ax4711]

I'd say midgame is when the Hive starts waking up and terrorizing everyone. You'll get an SOS message from a pirate faction that has been targeted for destruction, and need to put together a somewhat capable fleet, likely destroyers, to take down a Hive carrier.

[jorgen_cab]

When the Hive start to wake up you probably could say is at the beginning of the mid game. I think it is hard to tell otherwise what that is as it is quite subjective.

[swurplayer]

Thanks for the responses. I'm asking because when I see advice for playing the game there is, generally, a qualifier of "mid-game" and "late game".