● Covered by 3 sources · 3 reportsMedium impact1 negative1 neutral1 positive
Epic Games Releases Redesigned Launcher Preview, Claims 46% Faster Startup Than Steam
Key points
- Epic Games released a preview of its redesigned launcher.
- The new launcher is claimed to start 46% faster than Steam.
- New features include dedicated game pages and collections.
- Epic Games is collecting user feedback on the preview version.
- The new launcher was rewritten from scratch using AI tools.
- Epic Games Store General Manager and VP is Martin Keely.
- The new launcher will also have a Linux version.
New Launcher Preview Available
Epic Games has made a preview version of its redesigned game launcher available for download. The company states this new launcher is "way faster and more responsive than the current one" and features a new look.
Epic Games claims the new launcher starts up 46% faster compared to Steam. The company has established a landing page where users can download the preview and explore its new enhancements.
Features and Feedback
The redesigned launcher includes new features such as dedicated game pages and collections. Epic Games is actively gathering feedback from users on this preview version.
Brian Sharon, senior communications manager for Epic Games, clarified that while the launcher is in preview for testing and may have issues, once a user is in a game, developer tools, or non-gaming applications, services will function as intended without preventing gameplay.
Development Approach and Context
Epic Games described its development process for the new launcher as "vibe coded," stating, "Programming is hard. So, instead of doing that, we vibe coded a new Epic Games Launcher." This statement was made in a blog post introducing the update.
The release of the launcher preview follows recent company announcements regarding an "AI pivot" and layoffs. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney previously described the older launcher as "clunky."
Updates
- The new launcher was rewritten from scratch using AI tools.
- Epic Games Store General Manager and VP is Martin Keely.
- The new launcher will also have a Linux version.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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How outlets covered it
Epic Games released a public preview of its new Epic Games Launcher, which was rewritten from scratch using AI tools. The new launcher is designed to be faster and more responsive than the previous version, with Epic claiming it outperforms Steam in startup speed.
Epic Games Store released a redesigned game launcher, which it states is faster and more responsive, and includes Linux support. The release follows recent layoffs and an announced AI pivot, leading to criticism regarding the company's messaging.
Epic Games released a preview version of its redesigned launcher, which it claims starts 46% faster than Steam and includes new features like dedicated game pages and collections. The company is gathering feedback before a stable release, though some social and account management features are currently missing.