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Epic Games has released a preview of its rebuilt launcher, claiming it is 46% faster than Steam. The update adds Linux support and uses AI-assisted development, though some features remain incomplete.
Epic Games has released a preview of its redesigned Epic Games Launcher, available for Windows, macOS, and, for the first time, Linux. The company describes the new software as "vibe coded," a term it uses to describe its AI-assisted development process, and claims the launcher is "way faster and more responsive" than the previous version.
According to Epic Games, the new launcher starts 46% faster than Valve’s Steam. The company states that the new launcher reaches the Store from a cold start in 5.47 seconds, compared with 10.07 seconds for Steam. Additionally, Epic says restoring from the system tray to the Library screen is 14% faster, taking 0.36 seconds versus Steam’s 0.42 seconds.
Epic commissioned these tests from Keywords Studios, gathering results from five tests across 13 Windows platforms. The company also claims the new library is "30x faster" than the previous version, though it did not provide further details on this metric.
In its announcement, Epic Games stated, "Programming is hard. So, instead of doing that, we vibe coded a new Epic Games Launcher that’s way faster and more responsive than the current one, and has a new look." Martin Keely, Epic Games Store General Manager and VP, told The Verge that the team "started from scratch" and used AI as "a tool to write and review new features and new capabilities from the ground up."
Keely clarified that while AI was used for code efficiency and architecture, the team "managed that process" and "supervised the entirety of what we did." This aligns with a broader company shift, as CEO Tim Sweeney recently announced a "huge pivot underway" to move developers to "retool for maximum AI acceleration."
The preview version introduces several new features, including:
Linux support is a significant addition, with official support for Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or newer, Fedora 43 or newer, and Debian 12 or newer. Epic is also rebuilding Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) to bring Fortnite to Linux in the future. "Once it’s working with a critical mass of distro maintainers, we’ll bring Fortnite to Linux via the Epic Games Launcher," Epic said.
Epic describes the preview as "light on features," comparing it to a "speedboat and not a yacht." The company notes that certain social features and account management options are missing. While Epic initially suggested developers and competitive players avoid the preview, it later updated its stance. Brian Sharon, Senior Communications Manager for Epic Games, stated, "To be clear: once you’re in a game you’re good to go. The same goes for developer tools and non-gaming applications. All of the services will work as intended, and there’s nothing that would prevent casual or competitive play."
The launch of the new Epic Games Launcher represents a significant shift in how the company approaches software development, openly embracing AI-assisted coding. By adding native Linux support and claiming substantial performance improvements over Steam, Epic aims to address long-standing criticisms of its platform's speed and feature set. However, the "vibe coded" label has sparked debate about the reliability of AI-generated code in critical infrastructure like game launchers.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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