Key information
Epic Games has released a preview version of its completely rebuilt Epic Games Launcher. According to Martin Keely, vice president and general manager of the Epic Games Store, the application features a new tech stack that encompasses the shell, download manager, library, and store architecture.
The primary focus of this initial phase is performance. Epic reports that the library loads 30 times faster than the previous version, while the application boots from cold in 5.47 seconds. Additionally, the launcher now occupies a smaller footprint of 300mb to accommodate various hardware configurations.
The new launcher introduces quality of life improvements, including customizable top bars and enhanced library filtering. While the current preview is light on features, Epic plans to prioritize better game discovery and social sharing components in future updates to help users find relevant titles.
The software supports Windows, MacOS, and, for the first time, Linux. Although Fortnite is intended for Linux, it remains unavailable until Epic completes a rebuild of its Easy Anti-Cheat system. The company intends to release the game once it achieves compatibility with a critical mass of distribution maintainers.
