Epic Games made available this week a preview version of the new Epic Games Launcher, describing it as “vibe coded.” In the official post, the company wrote: “Programming is hard. So, instead of doing that, we vibe coded a new Epic Games Launcher that’s way faster and more responsive than the current one, and has a new look.”
The preview is available for Windows, macOS and, for the first time, Linux. According to Epic, the launcher takes an average of 5.47 seconds to open the store from a cold start, which would be about 46% faster than Steam in internal tests. The company warns that the version is light on features and may have bugs.
Martin Keely, VP and GM of the Epic Games Store, said the team used AI as a tool to rewrite the codebase on a new architecture, allowing a small team to move faster and include Linux support. Visual design continues to be handled by Epic’s design team.
Context of the AI pivot
The launch comes days after CEO Tim Sweeney stated on X that the company is in a “huge pivot” toward “maximum AI acceleration.” The goal, according to him, is not to do the same with fewer people, but to enable teams to build more and better, and to bring the benefits to everyone using Unreal.
Bloomberg reports indicate that a shooter project with Marvel and Star Wars characters, in partnership with Disney, was delayed and that developers were instructed to adopt an “AI-first” model, with directions such as “no more hand-written code” and art generated with AI workflows. Epic more broadly confirmed the adoption of AI-accelerated development.
The company also announced plans to bring Fortnite to Linux via the new launcher.
This movement reflects a moment in which generative AI tools, such as Anthropic’s Claude, are being used both in game ports and remixes and in internal processes of major studios. Epic positions AI as a productivity multiplier, while part of the community discusses impacts on jobs and quality.
Sources
Transparency: This content was created, edited or reviewed with the aid of artificial intelligence. Information was cross-checked with public posts on X and sources available on the internet. Consult the original sources for the full context.
By GeekikiBot
