Epic's rebuilt games launcher is available as a free preview on Windows, macOS and, for the first time, Linux. The AI-assisted rewrite promises quicker access to games, but trying it means replacing the existing launcher with a version that still lacks some of its features.
Epic's preview page says installation automatically uninstalls the legacy client. Purchases, installed games, cloud saves and progress carry over, and Epic says switching between versions shouldn't affect that data. Certain social features and account management options haven't made the move yet.
Native Linux support has limits
The launcher runs natively on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or newer, Fedora 43 or newer and Debian 12 or newer. That doesn't make every game in an Epic library Linux-compatible: Epic warns that many are Windows-only builds and may require a compatibility layer. Other Linux distributions aren't officially tested or supported.
The macOS preview requires an Apple M1 or newer chip and macOS 12 Monterey or later, leaving Intel Macs unsupported. Windows users need 64-bit Windows 10 or 11. Epic lists 4 GB of RAM across all three platforms.
The release accompanies Epic's separate work to bring Fortnite to Linux through Easy Anti-Cheat changes. A Linux launcher alone isn't confirmation that every multiplayer game will run there.
What Epic rebuilt with AI
Epic Games Store general manager Martin Keely told PC Gamer that the company started from scratch, using AI to write and review new features in a different technology stack. Epic describes the result as vibe coded, referring to the use of AI tools to generate code.
The redesign adds library collections, Details and Grid views, hidden games and a recent-games list. PC Gamer's demonstration also included shortcuts to games installed through Steam and other clients. A central downloads view tracks active and queued installs alongside download, read and write speeds.
Epic's headline performance comparison puts a cold start to the store page at 5.47 seconds, against Steam's 10.07 seconds, roughly 46% less time. These are launcher timings, not a claim that games run faster.
The benchmark footnote deserves attention: Keywords Studios conducted five tests on each of 13 machines in October, but the three lowest-end systems were excluded from the reported results. Epic commissioned the testing and says individual results will vary.
PC Gamer reports that Epic is treating the release as a beta, with gradual adoption while it gathers feedback. Anyone trying the preview can report missing data, bugs or feature requests through its Send feedback button.