Epic throws shade at Steam, admits to vibe-coding the new Epic Games Launcher with AI “to be faster than the other guy”
Epic Games has unveiled a preview version of its overhauled Epic Games Launcher, built using generative AI through a process the company calls “vibe coding”—using AI to write code without necessarily understanding the underlying implementation. The completely rebuilt launcher is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, marking its first Linux release.
According to Epic, the new launcher is substantially faster than Steam, with claims of 30 times faster library loading, 46% faster startup to store, and halved launcher startup times (verified by external vendor). The preview includes core features—store, library, social panels, and developer hub—though Epic acknowledges it’s “light on features” and will contain bugs. The refresh reflects Epic’s broader shift toward AI-assisted development, with CEO Tim Sweeney recently announcing a company-wide “pivot” for AI-first production.
The announcement adopts a somewhat tongue-in-cheek tone, opening with “Programming is hard,” highlighting both the novelty and implicit skepticism around AI-generated code’s reliability and maintainability.
Sources
- Epic throws shade at Steam, admits to vibe-coding the new Epic Games Launcher with AI “to be faster than the other guy”
- ‘We Vibe Coded a New Epic Games Launcher’ – Epic’s New Store App Was Built Using AI
- ‘The Library Loads 30x Faster’ – The New, Much Speedier Epic Games Launcher Has Arrived
- Epic says its new ‘vibe coded’ Epic Games Store launcher is faster than Steam
- Epic Brags That Its New ‘Vibe Coded’ Store Launcher Is Faster Than Steam
- “We vibe coded a new Epic Games Launcher” because “programming is hard”, announce company we’re somehow supposed to see as a serious Steam competitor
- Epic’s new games launcher is ‘vibe coded’
- Epic says it’s ‘vibe coded’ its new Epic Games Launcher with AI, because ‘programming is hard’