Epic Games vibe codes new launcher because 'programming is hard,' claims it starts 46% faster than Steam

Epic Games has introduced a new launcher for its games, which boasts AI-enhanced features and claims to launch 46% faster than Steam. In a blog post, Epic Games explained that they opted to "vibe code" the new launcher instead of relying on traditional programming methods, citing the complexity of the task. The new launcher is currently available in a preview phase, allowing users to download and provide feedback. Once the feedback is collected and addressed, Epic Games plans to release a stable version.

The updated launcher includes several enhancements, such as dedicated pages for games in the library, a unified downloads page, and collections for organizing the library into different categories. Epic Games claims that the new library is 30x faster than the previous one, although no specific details are provided. However, the launcher still has some rough edges, with missing features like a customizable social menu and account management options. Epic Games is working towards feature parity with Steam.

The new launcher is still in the preview phase and is available for download on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Windows 10 and 11, as well as macOS 12 and newer, are supported. For Linux users, at least Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, Fedora 43, or Debian 12 are required. Epic Games commissioned performance testing from Keywords Studios, and the results showed that the new launcher is 46% faster than Steam during a cold start and 14% faster during a restore from the system tray.

However, these metrics are limited, with the latter only accounting for a 0.06-second difference. Epic Games did not provide any performance data compared to the old launcher, except for stating that it is "way faster and more responsive." Epic Games suggests that developers working on Unreal projects, as well as competitive players in Fortnite and Rocket League, continue using the older launcher.