Epic Games previews its new Epic Games Launcher

Epic Games’ new launcher is faster than Steam and has official Linux support

Epic Games has officially “vibe coded” a new Epic Games Launcher, and it is “way faster and more responsive” than its current one. The launcher is now available in preview, promising faster launch times than Steam and official Linux support.

With this new launcher, Epic Games is building a new foundation for its games. The app supports Windows, macOS, and Linux. It also supports “Party up and voice chat” across Fortnite, the Epic Games Store, and the Epic Games App. It also adds new library customisation options, faster search, and stronger download monitoring.

Compared to Steam, Epic claims its new launcher boots 46% faster. This was tested by Keyword Studio, a 3rd party, across 13 different Windows PC configurations. When restoring the launcher from the system tray, Epic Games claims a 14% speed advantage compared to Steam. That said, I doubt many users would notice the extra 0.06-second wait.

Gamers can organise their libraries into collections, making it easier for gamers to manage their Epic Games Libraries. This is great for users with large Epic Games libraries, especially those who have been grabbing their weekly free games for the past few years.

This launcher clearly shows Epic Games’ new path forward. Official Linux support is new for Epic, signalling much stronger Linux support for its games. This could also mean official Linux support for Epic Games Store games is on the horizon. In fact, Fortnite is now due to get official Linux support.

PC gamers can download Epic Games’ new preview launcher here. More features will be added to this launcher over time.

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