Epic Games uses AI to rebuild its launcher, targeting faster boot times than Steam

Epic Games has officially unveiled a new version of its desktop launcher, confirming that it was built using generative AI as part of a push to improve performance and directly challenge the speed of Valve’s Steam platform. According to a report from Eurogamer, the company is leaning into the term “vibe-coding” to describe how it used AI prompting to rewrite the launcher’s codebase.

The Need for Speed

Epic touted the improvements via social media, sharing a graph that claims the new Epic Games Launcher boots five seconds faster than Steam. The company is currently inviting users to test the new version in a “Preview” release. In a blog post, Epic described the current state of the app as a “speedboat and not a yacht,” noting that the initial release is intentionally light on features to prioritize responsiveness and a new visual layout.

Martin Keely, vice president and general manager of the Epic Games Store, told IGN that the use of generative AI was a strategic efficiency play. Keely stated that it allowed a small team to rewrite the entire codebase and deploy it across platforms more quickly. While the team acknowledges the potential for bugs in this new build, they are actively encouraging users to use the “Send Feedback” button to report issues as they continue development.

AI-First Development

This move follows broader reports that Epic is shifting toward an “AI-first” development pipeline. A recent Bloomberg report cited by Eurogamer suggests that the company is pushing for AI-generated code and art across internal projects, including upcoming collaborations with Disney. CEO Tim Sweeney has further signaled that this technology could eventually be integrated into Unreal Engine, aiming to help teams “build more and better stuff” rather than simply reducing staff.

Why it matters

For PC players, this update represents a significant shift in how Epic Games plans to compete for your desktop real estate. If the “vibe-coded” launcher successfully delivers on its promise of being faster and more responsive than Steam, it could make the platform feel less intrusive for daily use. However, because the app is currently in a “light” feature state, users may notice missing social tools or library functions compared to the current version.

Players should keep an eye on how these bugs are addressed in the coming weeks. While the launch specifically targets speed, the controversial nature of AI-generated code means the community will likely be watching closely to see if this new, faster launcher maintains stability during updates or large game downloads.