Epic Games has released a public preview of a completely rewritten version of its Epic Games Launcher, a move the company attributes to a development strategy it calls “vibe coding.” The new client aims to address long-standing performance issues with the existing software and directly challenge Valve’s Steam platform on speed and responsiveness.
The announcement marks a significant shift in how Epic builds its desktop software. Martin Keely, the company’s General Manager and VP, told PC Gamer that the team started the project from scratch. Instead of patching the legacy code, they used artificial intelligence as a primary tool to write and review new features. Keely explained that the goal was to replicate the functionality of the old launcher without inheriting its underlying code structure.
Performance Claims and Testing
Epic’s marketing materials emphasize speed above all else. The company states that the new launcher is “way faster and more responsive” than the current version. In its social media posts, Epic explicitly challenges users to test the new client against Steam, claiming it outperforms the competitor in cold start times.
Independent testing by Ars Technica supports the core claim regarding initial load times. The new launcher reaches the store page a few seconds faster than Steam when starting from a cold boot. However, the margin is not always decisive. Epic also claims a 0.06-second advantage when restoring the app from the system tray to the library screen. This difference is negligible in practice and was not noticeable during testing.
The focus on performance aligns with promises made earlier this year. During an Unreal Fest presentation in June, Epic announced a “storefront rearchitecture” and a private beta for “Launcher V2.” At that time, the company projected five times faster cold start times for the new software.
AI-Driven Development Strategy
The term “vibe coding” has gained traction in recent months, often referring to the use of AI to generate code based on high-level descriptions rather than traditional programming. While the phrase can carry connotations of rushed or unstable software, Epic insists the approach was deliberate. Keely told IGN that using AI allowed a small team to rewrite the codebase efficiently. This efficiency enabled the team to launch the preview across Windows and Mac platforms simultaneously, with a Linux version planned for the future.
This development approach coincides with broader strategic changes at Epic. CEO Tim Sweeney recently posted on social media that the company is undergoing a “huge pivot” toward an “AI first” model. He stated that the company is retooling its workforce to maximize AI acceleration. Sweeney clarified that the aim is not to reduce headcount but to enable developers to build more features and improve quality across all teams using Unreal Engine.
Feature Parity and Stability
Epic has been transparent about the limitations of the current preview build. The company warns that the software may contain bugs and is currently “light on features.” An FAQ on the Epic Games website notes that certain social features and account management options have not yet been migrated from the legacy launcher.
Despite these gaps, the new client introduces several requested improvements. Users now have access to a Recent Games list and a centralized downloads hub to track network activity. Epic states it is working toward full feature parity between the new launcher and the old one.
The release of this preview comes shortly after reports suggested Epic is shifting its development model for upcoming titles, including a Star Wars and Marvel-themed shooter. The company is applying the same AI-centric philosophy to its game development as it is to its platform software. The success of the new launcher will likely depend on how quickly Epic can resolve bugs and close the feature gap with its established competitor.
Source: Ars Technica
