GoKawiilEpic Games releases AI-coded preview launcher, claims 46% faster startup than Steam
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.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The move suggests Epic is leaning on AI-assisted development to accelerate feature parity with established rivals like Steam, though the company's own admission that the tool was used because 'programming is hard' raises questions about code quality and long-term maintainability. Missing social and account features indicate the rollout is incomplete, which could affect user trust during the preview phase. The advisory against using the new launcher for competitive or development work hints that Epic itself is unsure of its stability under demanding use cases.
- Epic Games' new launcher was built using AI and claims a 46% faster startup than Steam.
- The preview version adds Steam-like features such as collections, dedicated game pages, and a unified downloads page, but still lacks some social and account tools.
- Epic recommends Unreal developers and competitive Fortnite/Rocket League players stick with the older launcher for now.
Source: tomshardware.com — Jake Roach, 2026-10-14
Published there as: “Epic Games vibe codes new launcher because 'programming is hard,' claims it starts 46% faster than Steam”
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