Epic Games unveils AI-assisted launcher preview targeting Steam speed
The company uses generative tools to rebuild its client, claiming faster startup times than Valve’s platform while warning users to expect bugs during the open beta testing phase.
Key points
- Epic Games released a preview build of its launcher created using AI-assisted coding techniques.
- The company claims the new client starts 46% faster than the Steam client.
- Epic warns that the preview contains bugs and lacks full feature parity with the current version.
Epic Games released a preview version of its redesigned desktop launcher on October 14, stating that it used artificial intelligence to rebuild the application from scratch. The company describes the development process as "vibe coding," a method intended to accelerate the creation of a more responsive client that competes directly with Valve’s Steam platform in terms of performance.
According to Epic Games Store General Manager Martin Keely, the engineering team utilized AI tools to write and review new features within a different technology stack. Keely told PC Gamer that the goal was to replicate existing functionality without reusing the previous codebase, allowing a small team to support Windows, Mac, and upcoming Linux versions more efficiently than traditional development methods would permit.
Technical claims and limitations
Epic Games claims the new launcher starts up 46% faster than Steam and features a library interface that is 30 times faster, though it provided no technical metrics to support the latter figure. Ars Technica reported that its own testing confirmed the new client reaches the store page slightly quicker than Steam from a cold start, but noted that other claimed speed differences, such as a 0.06-second advantage in restoring from the system tray, were negligible in practice.
Despite the performance focus, the preview build has significant gaps. Epic acknowledges that certain social features and account management options are missing. The new social menu also follows users across different sections of the app without an option to close or resize it. The company stated it is working toward full feature parity with the existing launcher before a stable release.
User guidance and stability
Epic Games initially advised developers and competitive players to avoid the new preview, but updated its guidance on October 14 after feedback. Senior communications manager Brian Sharon stated that while the preview may have issues, users are safe once inside a game. He clarified that developer tools and non-gaming applications function as intended, and nothing in the preview prevents casual or competitive play.
The company removed its earlier recommendation for specific user groups to stay away from the beta. Epic is now gathering public feedback on the preview build, which is available to anyone who wishes to download it. The firm plans to address reported issues and release a stable version after this testing phase concludes.
What should you do?
Users interested in testing the new launcher should download the preview build from the official Epic Games landing page. Those relying on specific social features or account management tools should verify their availability in the preview before switching entirely. Developers and competitive players should monitor the stability of their workflows, although Epic states that in-game performance remains unaffected.
What to do and how to stay safe: Epic Games
- Verify that your critical account management features are functional in the preview build before relying on it for daily use.
- Monitor the Epic Games blog or official channels for updates on feature parity and bug fixes during the preview phase.
- Consider keeping the current launcher installed as a backup if you encounter stability issues with the new preview version.
- Report any bugs or performance anomalies directly to Epic Games through their feedback channels to assist in the stabilization process.
Step-by-step guide: Mobile Device Security: How to Protect Data Beyond Passwords
General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.
Frequently asked questions
Is the new Epic Games Launcher available to everyone?
Yes, Epic Games has made the preview build publicly available for download on its landing page to gather feedback from all users.
Does the new launcher affect gameplay performance?
No, Epic Games states that once you are inside a game, performance is unaffected, and all services work as intended for both casual and competitive play.
Why did Epic Games use AI to build the launcher?
The company stated that programming is hard and used AI tools to rewrite the codebase more efficiently, allowing a small team to support multiple platforms quickly.
