By presenting its new launcher as a store “coded by feel” thanks to AI, Epic Games aimed to showcase a faster Epic Games Store and take on Steam in the process. However, amidst bugs and skeptical reactions, the joke turned back on the company: online, some considered the software so improvised that it became laughable.
Epic Games promises a faster launcher, a new store, and a renewed experience, but its way of presenting the project has primarily triggered an avalanche of mockery. The company explains that it designed this preliminary version relying on “vibe coding,” an AI-assisted programming approach. And, after boasting of better responsiveness than Steam, it now has to address criticism of software deemed too fragile to inspire confidence.
An awaited overhaul, presented as a “coded by feel” project
Eight years after its launch, the Epic Games Store remains associated with a simple promise: to recover free games, sometimes very popular, and then go play elsewhere. The store has grown, but its launcher has long given the impression of moving at a snail’s pace, far from the scale of its ambitions. An overhaul was therefore expected, and Epic had already mentioned changes aimed at bringing its experience closer to the standards set by Steam.
A provocative announcement that turns against Epic
The tone of the new announcement shifted the conversation. To present a test version of the revamped launcher, Epic joked about the difficulty of programming and claimed to have chosen a more direct method: to produce a new interface using “vibe coding.” The formula, which here refers to a development largely guided by AI, was supposed to emphasize the project’s speed. Instead, it provided internet users with an easy-to-twist slogan.
Epic also claimed that its application responded more quickly than “the other,” supporting its statement with performance comparisons between the launcher and Steam. However, the charts and figures published by the company did not suffice to convince skeptics: an interface can appear quick in certain tests without being pleasant, stable, or complete on a daily basis. On social media, the most cutting phrase summarized the sentiment of several players: “This launcher is so hastily put together that it’s funny.” Others amused themselves by watching Epic turn its development choice into a marketing argument.
Promises of speed against the bugs of the test version
The disconnect between the speech and the reported experience quickly fueled reactions. Users recounted unexpected behaviors or errors that appeared during their trials, giving the impression that the software had been launched before undergoing sufficient testing. In a widely commented video, one player explained that a change in settings related to Fortnite had opened the UEFN creation tool instead of producing the expected result. Such incidents do not independently prove that the entire overhaul is faulty. Nonetheless, it suffices to undermine a communication that insists on responsiveness and quality execution.
Epic specifies that this version is a preliminary test version, and warns that issues may arise. The company also maintains that any defects in the launcher should not affect the launch of games themselves. This distinction may reassure part of the public, but it does not resolve the issue of trust: the software is also used to browse the catalog, manage one’s library, and make purchases. Several people have thus advised concerned players to check the payment methods associated with their accounts, although none of the elements provided in the announcement demonstrate a leak or security flaw.
In statements to the press, the head of the Epic Games Store described a reconstruction carried out from the ground up. The new technical foundation concerns both the application’s interface, the download manager, the library, and the store’s architecture. The discovery pages and game listings would also have been rewritten. Such a vast undertaking may explain why a first preview seems uneven, but it also makes the visible flaws harder to ignore: players do not only judge an idea; they evaluate the tool they have in front of them.
Steam, free games, and a competition that cannot be reduced to a benchmark
The jab aimed at Steam comes amidst a rivalry older than this speed dispute. Epic has attracted many users thanks to regularly offered free games, while Valve maintains a central place in purchasing and launching habits on PC. An analysis relayed by former Epic employees specifically mentioned this dynamic: many come to claim free titles and then return to Steam. This reading is further developed in this article about player habits between Epic and Steam.
The difference between the two stores does not just rest on opening speed. Players also take into account navigation ease, purchase management, social functions, and the trust built over time. Epic seeks to bolster its offer, notably with expected features like a shopping cart, but it will need to prove that this new version brings a noticeable improvement beyond the announcements. For a digital store, an attractive interface is not enough if the essential steps lack reliability or clarity.
The relationship between Epic and Valve makes the comparison even sharper. The company announced the arrival of Fortnite on Linux thanks to Proton, the compatibility layer developed by Valve to run Windows games on Linux. Some internet users thus highlighted the contrast: Epic mocks Steam while relying on a competitor’s technology to broaden compatibility for its own game. This does not render the technical choice incoherent, but it provides ideal material for online jokes.
The broader context of Fortnite also feeds the attention around the Epic ecosystem. The return of the game to the U.S. App Store, after nearly five years of absence, reminded everyone how distribution decisions can weigh on access for players. The PC store must also convince that it deserves a lasting place in the public’s habits, beyond the distribution of digital gifts. For readers following the various twists surrounding the game, the return of Fortnite to the U.S. App Store illustrates another stage of this platform presence strategy.
An ambitious roadmap, but still to be demonstrated
The preview is presented as the first look at a store in transformation, and not as a finished product. Epic will thus need to evolve the available functions, correct observed errors, and demonstrate that the new architecture holds up across a wide variety of configurations. In computing, a smooth experience in a few tests does not guarantee equivalent stability for all players. Upcoming updates will be more telling than slogans, especially if they come with concrete and visible improvements.
The use of artificial intelligence adds another layer to the debate, as Epic has also internally expressed a desire to accelerate the adoption of these tools. Its leader explained that the goal would not merely be to produce the same things with fewer staff, but to enable teams to conceive more and, ideally, better. This ambition concerns the entire company, particularly projects related to Unreal Engine. For now, the reaction to the store mainly shows that a production method does not automatically convince users: they expect reliable results, not just a narrative around technology.
The “vibe coding” does not necessarily mean that no human oversight was conducted, nor that the tool would be entirely generated without technical expertise. The phrase, however, suggests a quick and intuitive creation, sometimes at the expense of rigor, and it is precisely this interpretation that has fueled controversy. Epic could have initially emphasized the functions, the testing steps, and the known limitations of its preview. By choosing provocative communication, the company drew attention but also offered its critics an easy angle: if the launcher appears unstable, the term “sloppy” imposes itself even before the public examines the architecture.
Players will not judge this overhaul solely based on the mockery surrounding the launch. They will observe whether the library becomes clearer, whether downloads are better managed, and whether store pages gain in comfort. Purchasing habits on PC also involve specific expectations regarding compatibility and product information; in this regard, the useful checks before buying a Sony game on PC remind us how important it is to know the practical details before proceeding to checkout.
While waiting for the next updates, the preview remains an open project, with its promises and its setbacks. Epic claims that its store should become more responsive and better equipped, while many users primarily ask for a stable and coherent experience. Between two tries of the new launcher, players can also find game tips in this selection of tips, from Metaphor: ReFantazio to Sonic x Shadow Generations. The continuation of the overhaul will need to show whether this first storm served as a real-world test or if the jokes will continue to run faster than the application.
An overhaul under the sign of “vibe coding”
Epic wanted to accelerate its Epic Games Launcher and give a new breath to its store. But by presenting a “coded by feel” version thanks to artificial intelligence, the company has mainly triggered an avalanche of mockery. The promise of faster and more responsive software has quickly been overshadowed by a much less flattering question: is a tool designed this way reliable enough to manage a game library and online purchases?
The comparison with Steam has not helped matters. Epic claimed better performance in some tests and challenged users to try the Preview version to form their own opinion. However, several testimonies quickly mentioned bugs and unexpected behaviors. For an update presented as a demonstration of speed, these failures provided its detractors with the ideal ground. The phrase “so hastily put together that it’s funny” summarizes the mood of some online reactions.
The contrast is even more visible as Epic claims to have entirely rebuilt the launcher: new architecture, new store pages, library and download manager rewritten. On paper, the ambition is real. However, a technical overhaul does not convince through its vocabulary or comparative graphs: it must primarily function stably and inspire confidence. The concerns expressed regarding payment methods show that this trust is just as important as the speed of the application’s opening.
At the same time, the announced arrival of Fortnite on Linux via Proton has fed the irony, as this compatibility technology is developed by Valve, the parent company of Steam. Epic is clearly looking to modernize its showcase and integrate AI more into its work methods. For now, however, its Preview remains a test version, with possible issues. The upcoming patches, and the daily experience of players, will weigh more heavily than the jabs aimed at its competitor.
