Epic Games has unveiled a preview of its significantly updated PC game launcher, a move that includes the introduction of native Linux support and a claimed increase in speed and responsiveness. The company stated in a blog post that the development process for the new launcher involved artificial intelligence, humorously describing the approach as "vibe coded." This refreshed client is designed to be faster and more efficient than its predecessor.
The new Epic Games Launcher boasts a faster startup time, with Epic claiming it boots in 5.47 seconds, which is approximately 46% quicker than Steam. The company also reported that switching to the game library is 30 times faster, and opening the store is three times faster compared to the previous version. These performance improvements were reportedly verified by an external vendor. The launcher has also been rebuilt with a new tech stack, including a redesigned store architecture and library view.
For Linux users, this update marks the first time the Epic Games Launcher will be available natively. Supported distributions include Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or newer, Fedora 43 or newer, and Debian 12 or newer. The Linux client requires a 64-bit x86 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 2GB of storage. Epic Games also indicated plans to bring Fortnite to Linux, contingent on a sufficient number of distribution maintainers meeting security requirements for Easy Anti-Cheat.
Epic Games has been vocal about its strategic pivot towards AI-assisted development. CEO Tim Sweeney has indicated that the company is retooling its operations to maximize AI acceleration. While the term "vibe coded" is often used colloquially to describe AI-generated code, Epic has openly acknowledged the use of AI tools in its development process, stating that it enhanced efficiency and enabled a smaller team to rewrite the codebase for faster cross-platform launch. The company has suggested that AI assistance allowed for a more rapid development cycle.
The preview version of the launcher is described as being "light on features," with Epic likening it to a "speedboat and not a yacht." Core components such as the store, library, and social panels are included, alongside an Unreal Engine-focused developer page. Users can also integrate shortcuts to games installed via other platforms, such as Steam, into the new Epic Games Launcher library. The download manager has been updated to display live speeds and track download statuses more clearly.