TL;DR
Epic Games announced Launcher V2 at Unreal Fest, featuring a complete rebuild aimed at improving speed, personalization, and features to rival Steam. The new launcher is set to launch in beta within the next year.
Epic Games has announced a major overhaul of its game launcher, unveiling Launcher V2 at Unreal Fest. The redesigned platform aims to significantly improve speed, features, and user experience to better compete with Steam, marking a strategic move in the ongoing battle for PC gaming market share.
At Unreal Fest, Epic Games revealed plans for Launcher V2, a comprehensive rebuild of its digital storefront and launcher platform. The new launcher promises to be five to six and a half times faster on startup and resume, with a new personalized storefront that recommends games based on user preferences and playstyle, as well as enhanced game pages that go beyond simple titles and prices.
The platform is also adding features such as in-store patch notes, player reviews, expanded user profiles with avatars and activity feeds, and improved social tools like direct messaging and game-independent parties. The update includes a new notification system for developer patch notes and a more modern, curated visual design. Epic claims these improvements are based on performance tests conducted on high-end hardware, though it is not yet clear how they will translate to typical consumer systems.
The rollout will be phased, with initial features like chunked installation of Fortnite, cross-region gifting, and a private beta for Launcher V2 expected soon. The full public beta, including the new storefront and other features, is scheduled within the next 12 months. Additional features such as universal controller support and APIs for developers are also planned for later stages, aiming to make Epic’s platform more competitive with Steam’s extensive ecosystem.
Why Epic’s Launcher V2 Could Reshape PC Gaming Competition
The introduction of Launcher V2 signifies Epic Games’ serious effort to challenge Steam’s dominance in PC gaming. By focusing on speed, personalization, and social features, Epic aims to attract more users and developers to its platform, potentially shifting the market dynamics. If successful, this could lead to increased competition, driving innovation and better services for gamers and developers alike.
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Epic’s Past Efforts to Compete with Steam
Epic Games launched its store in 2018, quickly becoming a notable competitor to Steam by offering exclusive titles and revenue sharing advantages for developers. Despite these efforts, Epic’s launcher has struggled with user retention and feature parity. The company has acknowledged its previous platform was lacking and committed to rebuilding it. The upcoming Launcher V2 is part of this ongoing effort to improve its competitiveness and user experience, with the goal of creating a more robust ecosystem that can rival Steam’s extensive community and features.
“Epic’s new launcher aims to significantly improve startup times and user engagement through a complete redesign.”
— an anonymous researcher
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Unclear Details About Launch Timing and User Adoption
It is not yet confirmed when Launcher V2 will be available to the general public, only that a public beta is planned within the next 12 months. The actual performance improvements on typical consumer hardware remain unverified, and the impact of new social and community features on user retention is still uncertain. Additionally, how developers and existing users will respond to the new platform is yet to be seen.
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Next Steps for Epic’s Launcher V2 Development and Testing
Epic Games will likely begin rolling out the private beta of Launcher V2 soon, with broader testing expected over the coming months. The company will also gather user feedback to refine features before a full public release. Monitoring how the new features influence user engagement and developer interest will be key indicators of success. Epic’s next major milestone is the scheduled public beta within the next year, after which further improvements and features are expected to follow.
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Key Questions
When will Epic Games Launcher V2 be available to all users?
The company plans to release a public beta within the next 12 months, but an exact date has not yet been announced.
How much faster will Launcher V2 be compared to the current version?
Epic claims it will be 5x faster on cold startup and 6.5x faster when restoring from the system tray, based on tests on high-end hardware.
Will Launcher V2 include all features of Steam’s platform?
It aims to include many features, such as personalized storefronts, reviews, patch notes, and social tools, but it remains to be seen if it will match Steam’s full ecosystem.
What new features are planned for Launcher V2?
Planned features include a redesigned storefront, user profiles, game activity feeds, in-store patch notes, reviews, chunked installation, cross-region gifting, and universal controller support.
Will Launcher V2 be compatible with all hardware configurations?
Performance claims are based on high-end hardware; actual performance on typical consumer systems may vary, and further testing is needed.
Source: Tom’s Hardware: For The Hardcore PC Enthusiast
