Epic Games has released a new version of the Epic Games Launcher, built using generative AI in an effort to outperform Steam. The PC storefront application grants players access to their game libraries, social features, and the Epic Games Store.
The company announced on X that it "vibe coded" the updated application to be faster than its main rival, using a colloquial term for code generated by AI. According to a graph shared by Epic, the new launcher boots in just five seconds. The company acknowledged that this preview version will have bugs and encouraged users to report issues via the Send Feedback button.
A blog post from the company explained the decision to use AI generation, stating that the new application is more responsive and features a redesigned look. "The first release is light on features. Think of it as a speedboat and not a yacht!" the post noted. Speaking to IGN, Epic Games Store vice president and general manager Martin Keely said that while AI generation is a highly visible issue in the games industry, the technology allowed a small team to rewrite the code base efficiently and launch it faster across platforms.
This launcher update follows a Bloomberg report claiming that Epic Games is shifting to an "AI first" development pipeline. According to the report, developers working on an internally delayed Marvel and Star Wars shooter were instructed to stop using hand-written code and to generate art through full AI workflows. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney also suggested in an online post that generative AI could be integrated into Unreal Engine, the development tool used for titles like Gears of War: E-Day and Final Fantasy 7 Revelation.
The aim isn't to do the same stuff with fewer people, but to enable everyone here to build more and better stuff, and to bring the benefits to all teams using Unreal.
Tim Sweeney, CEO, Epic Games
Testing the AI-generated launcher
The new Epic Games Launcher is currently available in preview for PC players. While the AI-driven rewrite aims to draw users away from Valve's Steam platform with faster load times, early adopters should expect a streamlined feature set and potential technical issues as development continues.
This article was written by AI from reporting by eurogamer.net.
