Epic Games has released a public preview of a rebuilt Epic Games Launcher, saying it was built largely through AI-assisted 'vibe coding' rather than traditional programming. Epic Games Store GM Martin Keely told press the team rewrote the launcher from scratch in a new tech stack, using AI to replicate existing functionality while adding Windows, Mac and upcoming Linux support. Epic and outlet testing found the new launcher starts up a few seconds faster than Steam, though a claimed 0.06-second advantage in restoring from the system tray was negligible.
Epic Games has released a preview build of a new, AI-generated Games Launcher, citing third-party benchmarks showing it cold-starts in 5.47 seconds versus Steam's 10.07 seconds on Windows. The company also touts a revamped interface with title summary pages, custom top bars, library aggregation, and storage/download monitoring tools. Epic says Fortnite will eventually come to Linux through this client once Easy Anti-Cheat is rebuilt and kernel-level agreements are reached with major distros.
Epic Games has launched a redesigned version of its game launcher that the company says was built using AI, or "vibe coded." Epic claims the new launcher starts up 46% faster than Steam and offers a 30x faster library, along with new features like dedicated game pages, a unified downloads page, and collections for organizing titles. The launcher is in a preview/open beta phase, with some social and account management features still missing, and Epic advises Unreal developers and competitive Fortnite and Rocket League players to stick with the old version for now.
Valve has rolled out a Steam update that adds new Big Picture mode features, speeds up client startup, and improves compatibility with Linux systems. The update is part of Valve's ongoing refinement of Steam's interface and performance.
An open-source app called DroidDeck lets supported Snapdragon Android devices run Valve's ARM64 Linux Steam client locally in Big Picture mode, without streaming, root access, or replacing Android's OS. Windows titles run via Proton with FEX handling x86 translation, and users can download games from their existing Steam libraries directly onto the device. It requires Android 9 or newer, Adreno 730+ graphics (6xx experimental), and several gigabytes of storage for the runtime and optional components.
iFixit's teardown of Valve's Steam Frame VR headset found that most components are repairable, but the internal cooling fan is buried deep within the device. Reaching it requires removing the optical assemblies and navigating past thermal hardware and cables, even though the fan and heat pipe are separate parts.
Omer Develioğlu, co-founder of Northend Games, published a breakdown showing that $560,000 in gross sales across two Steam titles—Northend Tower Defense and Deepstone Rift—over five years and 135,000 units ultimately left him and his co-founder with just $134,000 to split, and $73,000 after further costs. He says that works out to roughly $15,000 per year for him personally.
Star Citizen spinoff Squadron 42 now has a Steam page featuring a new trailer and listed minimum system requirements. Streamers and influencers who played a five-hour demo on October 9-10 have shared impressions, describing a linear, cinematic single-player experience rather than an open-world game.
Easy Fox, maker of the voice-controlled Steam demo Teach My Little Sister How To Drive, says a 20-fold surge in players has pushed its daily AI spending past $1,000. The game relies on Google Gemini and a ChatGPT fallback to interpret voice commands, and the studio took out a bank loan to keep the free demo running. Easy Fox says the paid release will fold AI usage costs into the purchase price rather than charging players per token.
AMD consumer chip lead Jack Huynh told Korean outlet The Elec that the company's FSR 4 upscaling technology will expand beyond desktop graphics cards to APUs, gaming laptops, and handheld devices by the end of the year. Huynh said AMD plans both to update existing APUs and launch new product lines, including a lighter version of FSR4 suited to lower-power chips.
The WD Black SN770M 2TB SSD has been discounted to $259.99, marking an 8% increase over its original launch price. This M.2 2230 drive is compatible with popular gaming handhelds like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally, providing a high-performance storage option amid ongoing shortages. Despite newer models emerging, the SN770M remains a cost-effective choice for expanding storage capacity in portable gaming devices.
Developers updated the Steam listing for Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, removing Denuvo's anti-tamper technology ahead of its February 2027 release. This change has sparked speculation about the reasons behind the decision, with some suggesting low pre-order numbers or strategic timing. The removal may indicate a shift in the game's DRM approach before launch, as studios often adjust protections close to release date.
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