Epic previews AI-assisted launcher for Windows, Mac and Linux
Epic Games has unveiled a preview of a redesigned PC games launcher, saying it is faster and more responsive and adding Linux support. The company says it used AI to help develop it, making the project an example of its wider move towards AI-assisted work.
Epic says AI agents wrote and reviewed code, while the development team supervised the process; it has not adopted a reported “no more hand-written code” approach. The preview is available on Windows, Mac and Linux, and Epic plans to bring Fortnite to Linux through the app. The existing launcher will remain available until the new one is stable and has the features Epic requires; the company laid off more than 1,000 staff in March, though CEO Tim Sweeney said those cuts were unrelated to AI.
- Epic’s redesigned launcher was developed with AI assistance.
- The preview adds Linux support and is described as faster.
- Fortnite is also planned for Linux through the app.
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Epic Games makes Fortnite and other games, and runs an online store where PC players can buy and launch games. Its launcher is the app players use to access that store and their games on Windows and Mac; the preview adds support for Linux, another computer operating system.
Epic says AI tools helped write and review code for the redesigned app, with the development team overseeing the work. The company has also announced plans to bring Fortnite to Linux through the app, while keeping the current launcher available until the preview is stable and has the features it needs.
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The case for
AI assistance could help Epic build and improve the launcher more quickly, while freeing developers to focus on design, testing and oversight. If staff supervise the agents and remain accountable for the result, using the tools may be a practical way to improve performance and expand Linux support without replacing human judgement.
The case against
Using AI to write and review code can raise concerns about reliability, maintainability and how much meaningful oversight developers can provide, especially in software used by millions. The recent job cuts may also make staff and users question whether AI adoption could eventually reduce demand for human roles, even though Epic says the layoffs were unrelated.
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Originally published by The Verge as “Epic’s new games launcher is ‘vibe coded’”.