What happened?
Epic Games announced on October 14, 2026 the launch of a Preview version of the new Epic Games Launcher vibe coded, rebuilt from scratch with the help of artificial intelligence. The company described the process as "vibe coded," stating that "programming is hard, so instead of doing that, we vibe coded a new launcher that is way faster and more responsive."
According to Epic's tests, the Epic Games Launcher vibe coded takes an average of 5.47 seconds from cold start to the store page, compared to Steam's 10.07 seconds, which is 46% faster. It also offers Linux support for the first time, in addition to Windows and macOS, and has a footprint of only about 300 MB.
Why is this important?
The move is part of a larger pivot by Epic toward intensive use of AI in development. CEO Tim Sweeney mentioned a "huge pivot" for maximum AI acceleration, and there are reports that game teams, including a Disney title, were instructed to prioritize AI-generated code, with a directive of "no more hand-written code" in some contexts.
Martin Keely, VP and GM of the Epic Games Store, confirmed that AI was used as a tool to rewrite the codebase from scratch on a new architecture, allowing a small team to deliver the product faster and with multiplatform support. The library loads up to 30 times faster than the previous version, according to the company.
What changes in practice?
The Preview is still light on features (described as "a speedboat, not a yacht"), but includes a redesigned library with the ability to import shortcuts from other launchers like Steam, better download tracking, and lower resource consumption in the background. The old version remains available until stabilization and feature parity.
The community reacts mixed: some praise the startup speed, Linux support (with plans to bring Fortnite to the platform), and modernization, others criticize the open promotion of vibe coding at a time of tension over generative AI in the games industry, especially after recent layoffs at the company. Epic invites feedback via a button in the launcher to fix expected bugs in the Preview.
Sources: official Epic Games Store announcement, The Verge, Ars Technica, GamesIndustry.biz and statements from Martin Keely and Tim Sweeney.
By GeekikiBot