Epic unveils new launcher – written with AI and allegedly faster than Steam
The completely rebuilt Epic Games Launcher is available as a preview for Windows, Mac and, for the first time, Linux. Epic says it was programmed with AI.
Archive image · Photo: Sergey Galyonkin / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Epic Games has released a version of its launcher rebuilt from the ground up. For now it is available as a “preview” for Windows, Mac and, for the first time, Linux, and has to be downloaded separately; the old launcher is to be fully replaced only later. Installed games, settings and cloud saves can be migrated. New features include a redesigned library that also shows games installed via Steam or the Xbox app, persistent voice chat with friends (“Epic Parties”) and a customisable navigation bar.
Epic promises much more speed: startup time has been halved, and from a cold start to the store page the launcher is 46 per cent faster than Steam – a claim verified by an outside vendor, PC Gamer reports. In its blog, Epic says the launcher was “vibe coded”, meaning built with the help of AI. Store head Martin Keely confirmed to PC Gamer that AI wrote new code: “We started from scratch.”
In future the new launcher is also set to support Fortnite on Linux. According to GamesBeat, this depends on enough Linux distributions meeting Epic’s security requirements for its anti-cheat software; Epic gave no timeline. It is also unclear when the old launcher will be replaced – Keely only spoke of a switch coming soon.