Epic Games rebuilds launcher to deliver a major performance boost

Epic Games has revealed plans to completely rebuild its PC launcher, aiming to address long-standing complaints about slow performance and usability. The company says the new version, known as Launcher V2, will deliver significantly faster loading times and a smoother overall experience for both players and developers.

The announcement was made during Unreal Fest, where Epic shared details of its ongoing efforts to modernise the software that serves as the gateway to the Epic Games Store and other company services. The update follows earlier criticism from within the company itself, with an Epic executive acknowledging earlier this year that the launcher had not met user expectations.

Epic targets a faster and more reliable launcher

During its Unreal Fest presentation, Epic outlined plans for a complete overhaul of the launcher’s underlying technology. According to the company, the new Launcher V2 is being built from the ground up rather than receiving incremental updates to the existing platform.

some other things:

• Rebuilding the store from the ground
• Adding in-store Patch Notes
• Player reviews are finally coming
• The store will be 5x to 6.5x times faster
• Universal controller support
• All this will be in conjunction with Fortnite pic.twitter.com/zLp3ySHUzG

— LuKa 🗣️ (@LuKaOnIndeed) June 18, 2026

Epic claims the rebuilt launcher will be five times faster during a typical cold start, which refers to launching the application from a fully closed state. The company also said users restoring the launcher from the system tray should experience speeds 6.5 times faster than today’s.

The company acknowledged that performance issues have affected a wide range of users. In presentation materials shown during the event, Epic stated that “every developer in this room and every player we have has experienced challenges with the current launcher.” The comment reflects concerns raised by users for several years about the application’s slow loading times and cumbersome interface.

The launcher serves as a central hub for purchasing, downloading and managing games through the Epic Games Store. As a result, performance problems have often been a source of frustration for players who regularly access the platform.

Community feedback influences redesign

The decision to rebuild the launcher appears to be closely linked to feedback from both developers and consumers. The Epic Games Store has grown significantly since its launch, but criticism of the accompanying launcher has remained common among users.

Some players have sought alternative ways to access games obtained through the Epic Games Store. In certain cases, users have integrated titles into other platforms to avoid interacting with the launcher whenever possible. Such workarounds have highlighted the extent of dissatisfaction with the software’s speed and design.

Epic’s acknowledgement of these concerns suggests the company is taking a more direct approach to addressing user feedback. Rather than focusing solely on small improvements, the decision to redesign the launcher from the ground up indicates a broader effort to modernise the platform.

The company had previously signalled that major changes were on the way. In a press release published in February, Epic stated that it was “in the process of rebuilding the underlying architecture of the Epic Games Store Launcher and plans to ship improvements this summer.” The latest presentation provides further evidence that the project is progressing and remains a key priority for the company.

Epic plans wider improvements for its store

The launcher overhaul is only one part of Epic’s broader strategy to improve its digital storefront. During Unreal Fest, the company also highlighted several new features planned for the Epic Games Store itself.

Among the proposed additions are in-store patch notes that allow players to view update information directly within the storefront. Epic also plans to introduce player reviews, giving users more opportunities to share feedback and help others make purchasing decisions.

The company is additionally working on quick-access categories designed to simplify navigation. These categories are intended to help users find games and content more efficiently without having to search through multiple menus.

Another planned feature is a personalised home page that will tailor recommendations and content to individual users. This approach reflects a growing trend among digital marketplaces, which increasingly rely on personalisation to improve engagement and make content discovery easier.

Epic has not announced a release date for Launcher V2. However, roadmap information presented during Unreal Fest suggests the company will first launch a private beta before making the software available to the wider public. Additional details are expected to emerge as development continues and testing expands.