Epic Games has unveiled the first public Preview of its completely overhauled Epic Games Launcher, a move that promises to enhance user experience with significantly faster startup times, a revamped library, and reduced background resource consumption. This transformation has been eagerly anticipated, as the previous iteration of the launcher often faced criticism for its sluggish navigation and limited feature set. Rather than presenting this as a mere incremental update, Epic positions the Preview as a fresh foundation for its platform.
According to Epic’s internal benchmarks, the new launcher boasts an impressive cold start time of 5.47 seconds when accessing the Store, compared to Steam’s 10.07 seconds, marking a remarkable 46% improvement. Additionally, returning from the background to the library now takes just 0.36 seconds, slightly quicker than Steam’s 0.42 seconds.
Epic Rebuilt the Launcher With ‘Vibe Coding’
In an intriguing twist, Epic has openly discussed the influence of generative AI in the development of the new launcher. “Programming is hard. So, instead of doing that, we vibe coded a new Epic Games Launcher,” the company stated in its official announcement. This phrase has sparked curiosity and skepticism alike, as it suggests a significant shift in the development process. Martin Keely, general manager of the Epic Games Store, revealed to PC Gamer that the team embarked on a complete rebuild, employing a new architecture and technology stack, and utilizing AI tools to create and evaluate new features rather than simply refining the old launcher.
This approach aligns with Epic’s broader strategy of embracing AI-assisted development, a direction CEO Tim Sweeney has described as a commitment to “maximum AI acceleration.” However, the term “vibe coded” has drawn its share of online mockery, particularly given the sensitive nature of the software, which manages game libraries, purchases, and account information. Discussions on platforms like Reddit have raised questions about the reliability and security of AI-generated code, although these concerns remain speculative until the Preview undergoes more extensive real-world testing.
The Preview Is Faster, but It Is Not Finished
The new launcher also features a redesigned library, searchable collections, dedicated game pages, enhanced download monitoring, and the ability to showcase shortcuts for games installed via other PC clients. Notably, for the first time, an official Linux version is available, alongside support for Windows and Apple Silicon Macs. Epic is concurrently revamping Easy Anti-Cheat support, with plans to eventually bring Fortnite to Linux as well.
However, there is a significant caveat: the Preview is intentionally feature-incomplete. Epic has cautioned users that some functionalities from the existing launcher may be absent, and bugs are to be expected as development progresses. Installing the Preview will replace the legacy launcher, though users have the option to uninstall it and revert to the older client if needed. Players can access the Preview through the new Epic Games Launcher site.
While the new startup benchmark is promising, changing long-standing perceptions of the Epic Games Store will require more than just speed. After years of feedback regarding its launcher, Epic has finally addressed the issues users have been vocal about, even if the term “vibe coded” has opened up a new avenue for debate.
