adminThe new Epic Games launcher is available in preview, and Epic says it opens from a cold start to the store page 46% faster than Steam. The company also reports quicker access to the library and a smaller application footprint. These figures are Epic’s own comparisons, so actual results may vary depending on a player’s computer and setup.
Image credit: Epic Games
Epic Games launcher performance claims
Epic says the preview launcher is 14% faster than Steam when returning from the system tray to the library. Martin Keely, Epic Games Store’s vice president and general manager, also said the library loads 30 times faster than it did in the previous launcher and that startup is twice as fast.
Keely described the application’s footprint as approximately 300 MB. Keeping an application’s size and resource demands modest can matter for players using older or less powerful hardware, though the reported size alone does not indicate how much memory or processing power it uses while running.
For a fair comparison on your own system, close both launchers before testing a cold start and use the same internet connection. Store pages can also take longer to appear when a network is slow or other applications are using bandwidth.
A rebuilt launcher and new technology
Epic says the launcher has been rebuilt from the ground up, with a new technology stack covering the application shell, download manager, library and store. The company also says it rewrote features such as discovery and product detail pages. The preview is available for Windows and Mac, with a Linux version planned.
Because this is a preview release, features and performance may change before a wider release. Players considering trying it should expect that some parts of the experience may still be adjusted. Checking for updates and reporting reproducible issues through Epic’s support channels can help users stay informed as the software develops.
How AI was used in development
Epic has described the launcher as “vibe coded,” a term associated with using AI tools during software development. Keely said AI was used as one tool in the development process, helping a small team rewrite the codebase and prepare the launcher for multiple platforms.
He said the use of AI focused on code efficiency and architecture, rather than artwork or visual design. According to Keely, Epic’s design group handled the launcher’s design work. This distinction is useful: AI-assisted coding does not necessarily mean that every part of an application, including its visuals, was generated by AI.
Epic’s wider approach to AI
The launcher’s development comes amid reports that Epic is moving toward more AI-assisted production. The company has also delayed a planned Disney collaboration, described as a shooter featuring characters from Marvel and Star Wars. An internal message reportedly included a director’s comments about handwritten code and AI-generated art workflows.
Epic communications director Jake Jones said the company is embracing AI-accelerated development while keeping Epic developers in creative and technical leadership roles. CEO Tim Sweeney has likewise described a broader effort to reorganize teams around AI tools, with the stated goal of enabling teams to build more and better projects, including work using Unreal.
What to know about the Epic Games launcher
Epic’s headline claim is that the new Epic Games launcher reaches the store page 46% faster than Steam from a cold start. The company also reports faster library access, a roughly 300 MB footprint and a rebuilt technical foundation. Since the software is still in preview and the comparisons come from Epic, users should treat the figures as company-reported results and assess performance on their own hardware.
