Epic Games announces new AI-built launcher preview for Windows, Mac, and Linux

What happened

On 14 October 2026, Epic Games announced a new “Preview” version of its launcher [1]. The company stated it used “vibe coding” to rebuild the application, a term meaning the software was built primarily through prompts to AI models with minimal manual coding [1]. Martin Keely, the general manager of the Epic Games Store, explained that the team started from scratch with a new architecture rather than reusing old code [1]. The goal was to use AI as a tool to write and review new features [2].

Performance claims and testing results include:

• Epic says the new launcher starts in 5.47 seconds, compared to 10.07 seconds for Steam, according to tests by Keywords Studios [1].
• Ars Technica testing found the launcher reaches the store a few seconds faster than Steam [1].
• Epic claims the launcher can restore from the system tray to the Library screen 0.06 seconds faster than Steam [2].
• In a June presentation, Epic previously stated the new launcher would have 5x faster cold start times [2].

The new Preview version includes a Recent Games list and a centralized downloads hub [2]. However, it currently lacks some social features and account management options found in the old version [1, 2]. It also does not support Intel Macs [1].

This announcement follows a broader shift at Epic. CEO Tim Sweeney stated the company is undergoing a “huge pivot” toward AI acceleration [1]. He noted the goal is to help developers build “MORE and BETTER stuff” rather than doing the same work with fewer people [1, 2]. This comes after Epic laid off more than 1,000 employees in March, which Sweeney said was due to falling Fortnite engagement and not related to AI [1]. Additionally, Bloomberg reported that Epic told its developers to go “AI first” for an unannounced shooter featuring Marvel and Star Wars characters [1]. This game, which Disney invested $1.5bn in during 2024, was due in March 2027 but has been delayed without a new date [1].

Who is affected

The new launcher Preview is available for Windows and macOS, and marks the first time the launcher is available for Linux [1]. However, the Linux version of Fortnite does not yet have a timeline for release [1]. Epic is also rebuilding its Easy Anti-Cheat software as EAC Linux v2 to test in Fortnite, but the Steam Deck does not currently support the required security features like TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot [1].