Epic Games has released a new version of the Epic Games Launcher in Preview — and the company isn’t being shy about how it was built. “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,” Epic’s announcement opens.
The rewrite is now available in Preview on Windows, Mac and Linux, and it arrives with some bold performance claims: Epic says the new launcher starts up to 46% faster than Steam — 5.47 seconds versus 10.07 seconds — and restores from the system tray 14% faster, at 0.36 seconds versus Steam’s 0.42. The numbers come from testing conducted by Keywords Studio, an independent game studio contracted by Epic, averaging five tests across 13 machines (excluding the three lowest-end systems tested). Epic acknowledges the Preview is still in testing, so bugs are possible.
What’s Actually New
Beyond the startup speed, the new launcher promises an updated UI for game search and filtering, a customizable library and top bar, and lower system resource usage while running in the background. It’s also pitched as a unified PC library — “connect your PC libraries and see everything you own together within the Launcher” — similar to how Steam lets users add external games to their libraries. Some of the “big features” Epic touts, like a shopping cart (described as “advanced digital commerce technology”) and download monitoring, already exist on rival platforms — a point Siliconera was quick to note.
The Vibe-Coding Context
The launcher follows Epic’s dramatic AI pivot. Last week, the company mandated AI-first development for its games, delaying its Marvel and Star Wars shooter in the process — with an internal directive calling for “no more hand-written code,” as reported by Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier. “We’re embracing AI-accelerated development, led by Epic developers who are the visionaries and creative drivers for everything we do,” Epic communications director Jake Jones told Schreier at the time.
Siliconera observed that Epic didn’t detail what safety protocols or information protections might be in place for a launcher built with AI and LLMs — a pointed question, given the software handles real accounts, payment information and game libraries. The company also didn’t say if or when users might be forced to switch from the current, human-programmed launcher to the new one.
Online reaction has been a mix of mockery and genuine interest — “We vibe coded the Epic Games Launcher” became an instant meme, with the announcement getting roasted across social media. But under the jokes, plenty of PC players seem willing to try anything that makes storefront clients less painful to launch.
Fortnite on Linux, Too
One more headline-worthy detail from the announcement: a Linux version of Fortnite is in development. Epic says it’s working with Easy Anti-Cheat on the port — and the company recently figured out, seemingly out of the blue, how to get Easy Anti-Cheat working on Linux to the same standard as its kernel-level implementation on Windows, long one of the biggest blockers for Linux gaming. Epic didn’t say whether the Fortnite port itself will also be vibe-coded.
The new Epic Games Launcher is available in Preview now for PC.