Epic Games claims its new "vibe coded" launcher runs 46% faster than Steam from cold start to store page

Epic Games has unveiled a beta version of its latest launcher, touting a 46% increase in speed compared to Steam, from the moment it's launched until reaching the store page. The software, currently in its preview stage, also outperforms its competitor when transitioning from the system tray to the library, according to reports.

Martin Keely, vice president and general manager of Epic Games Store, revealed that the library loads 30 times faster than its predecessor. The new launcher is significantly more lightweight, occupying just 300MB of storage space, a move aimed at accommodating a diverse array of hardware configurations. Keely emphasized that the launcher has been entirely redeveloped from the ground up, utilizing a brand new technology stack and a complete rewrite of both the shell, which houses the download manager, library, and the app, as well as the new store architecture.

Features such as discover and product detail pages have also been revamped. Epic Games characterized the development process as "vibe coded," which refers to the utilization of artificial intelligence. While the extent of AI integration in the launcher's development remains undisclosed, Keely confirmed that AI was employed as a tool to expedite the process.

Epic's deployment of AI in creating the new launcher aligns with the company's broader embrace of an AI-first production model. However, this development strategy has led to the postponement of an upcoming collaboration with Disney, a shooter game featuring characters from Marvel and Star Wars. The game's director disclosed that no manual coding would be employed, and all artistic elements would be generated through AI.

This shift in development approach has prompted Epic CEO Tim Sweeney to announce a significant pivot, reassigning developers to maximize AI acceleration, with the goal of enabling the team to create more and better content while benefiting all teams utilizing Unreal Engine.