Epic's New Game Launcher Opens Up to Linux and Loads 30x Faster
If you hate waiting for your games to load, this could save you time.
Epic Games has released a preview of its redesigned game launcher for Windows, macOS, and Linux. The new launcher is built with help from AI coding tools, a process Epic calls "vibe coded." According to Epic's own testing, it starts up in 5.47 seconds, compared to Steam's 10.07 seconds. It also returns from the background to your library in 0.36 seconds, slightly faster than Steam's 0.42 seconds. Epic says your game library now loads 30 times faster than before. The company redesigned game pages, search tools, and download controls to make everything snappier and use fewer background resources.
For everyday gamers, the biggest improvements are easier game management and less waiting. Each game gets its own page with status, activity, and launch controls. You can connect other game libraries, organize titles into collections, switch between grid and list views, and pin favorites to a customizable top bar. Search results update as you type, and download monitoring shows speeds, disk activity, and queued or failed downloads. Party and voice chat now work across Fortnite, the Epic Games Store, and supported Epic apps. However, this is an early preview, so some social features and account options are missing, and you may encounter bugs.
The launcher now runs natively on Linux, but that doesn't mean all games work on Linux. Windows-only games may still need a compatibility layer, so check each title before installing. Fortnite is not available on Linux yet, but Epic is developing an updated anti-cheat system (EAC Linux v2) that requires Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, and signed kernels. Epic says the Steam Deck currently lacks these features. The company plans to share this anti-cheat tech with other developers, which could bring more games to Linux.
To try the preview, download it from Epic's Preview website and sign in. Installation will automatically remove the old launcher. The macOS version requires Apple Silicon; Intel Macs are not supported. Your purchased games, installed titles, cloud saves, and progress carry over. Since it's still in preview, expect some rough edges. For now, it's a promising step toward faster, smoother game management, especially for Linux users.
- Epic's new launcher starts up in 5.47 seconds, about twice as fast as Steam.
- Your game library loads 30 times faster than before, with better search and download monitoring.
- It's a preview with bugs, and Fortnite still doesn't work on Linux.
Why It Matters
Faster, smoother game management saves you time and frustration, especially if you use Linux.