Epic Games Launcher [Beta]: AI-Built App Beats Steam [Confirmed]

Epic Games released a public beta for its entirely rewritten desktop client on October 15, 2026, officially claiming that the newly redesigned application runs forty-six percent faster than Steam from a cold start to the store page for all users. According to verified reports from GamesIndustry.biz, vice president and general manager Martin Keely confirmed to IGN that the library loads thirty times faster while startup speeds are doubled with a tiny 300MB footprint. Built completely from the ground up using a brand-new tech stack, the shell, download manager, and store architecture received comprehensive overhauls. Epic disclosed in official blog posts that the software was "vibe coded," utilizing artificial intelligence tools during development to drastically improve engineering efficiency. This breakthrough follows recent studio contractions across the software sector, including [Fishlabs Layoffs: German Studio Cuts Jobs [Confirmed]](/news/fishlabs-announces-studio-layoffs-2026), highlighting how leaner development methodologies and AI assistance are reshaping engineering pipelines across the globe. Industry observers note that the preview mode launcher is also fourteen percent faster than its primary competitor when restoring from the system tray into the user library, accommodating a wider range of PC hardware specifications without sacrificing performance or system resources.