Epic Games releases new launcher preview created using artificial intelligence

Epic Games has released a public Preview build of a new Epic Games Launcher, a digital desktop client used to buy and launch PC software. Ars Technica, Eurogamer, and Rock Paper Shotgun reported that the company used artificial intelligence to build the application from scratch. Epic Games stated that the software was vibe coded, using generative tools to write and review features rather than traditional programming, according to Ars Technica. [1][2][5]

The company claims the new launcher delivers faster startup speeds than rival storefront Steam. GamesRadar and VideoCardz reported that Epic claims the launcher starts 1.8 times faster than Steam, while TechPowerUp and Tom's Hardware cited an Epic claim that it opens 46 percent faster. GameGPU reported that early benchmarks show the launcher running faster than Steam. VGC reported that the build is light on features but includes a shopping cart, and Neowin noted that the release aims to compete directly with Valve's platform. [3][4][6][8][9][10][11]

The original Epic Games Store client launched in December 2018 for Microsoft Windows and macOS to distribute games, manage friend lists, and handle matchmaking. The storefront expanded to Android and iOS devices in August 2024. [12]

The new preview build is currently available to users for testing, though Ars Technica, Tom's Hardware, and Epic Games warned that the early application will contain bugs. [1][11]