Epic Games releases AI-assisted launcher preview, touts faster startup than Steam
Epic Games has launched a preview version of a redesigned launcher that it says was built with AI assistance. The company claims the new launcher starts 46% faster than Steam and offers a more responsive experience. It adds library pages, a unified downloads view, and collections, though some social and account features are still missing.
Epic's preview launcher is an open beta meant to collect user feedback before a stable release. It adds individual game pages, a single downloads hub, and collections for organizing libraries. Epic says its new library is thirty times quicker but gives no supporting details.
Testing commissioned from Keywords Studios covered five runs on thirteen Windows systems. Epic reports a 46% cold-start advantage over Steam and a 14% edge when restoring from the tray, though that second difference amounts to 0.06 seconds. The company did not compare the preview directly with its previous launcher beyond describing it as quicker and smoother.
If Epic's performance claims hold, the preview could pressure rival storefronts to improve startup speed and library tools, potentially benefiting PC players. Developers and competitive players may be affected if missing social or account features or instability disrupt workflows, so Epic's feedback period matters. AI-assisted coding in consumer software may also shape expectations about development speed and quality, though the preview's rough edges suggest caution.