Epic's New Launcher Ditches Bloat: What It Means for Your Ga…

For players, the preview promises significantly faster startup and a more organized library, potentially making Epic's launcher more competitive with Steam. For the industry, it highlights how AI-assi…
For players, the preview promises significantly faster startup and a more organized library, potentially making Epic's launcher more competitive with Steam. For the industry, it highlights how AI-assi…
Key points - Epic Games released a preview version of its rebuilt launcher on October 14. - The new launcher cold starts in 5.47 seconds on average, compared to Steam's 10.07 seconds. - Epic used AI for code development, architecture, and feature implementation, but not for UI visuals. - The preview supports Windows, macOS, and Linux, with Linux getting native support for the first time. - Existing accounts, games, cloud saves, and progress are preserved.
Timeline - October 14, 2026: Epic Games publicly releases the new launcher preview.
FAQ
Q: Will I lose my games or progress if I try the preview? A: No. Epic confirms your account, purchased and installed games, cloud saves, and game progress are all retained.
Q: Does the new launcher use AI for art or UI? A: No. AI was used only for code development, architecture, and features. The UI design remains with Epic's original team.
Q: Is the preview available on Linux? A: Yes, it's the first native Epic launcher for Linux, though some social and account management features are still missing.
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