Epic Games Launcher Preview vs. Steam Update: A Performance Comparison

On October 14, Epic Games unveiled a preview of its revamped Epic Games Launcher, which features what the company describes as “vibe-coded” elements. This launch includes a direct comparison with rival Steam, emphasizing the new launcher’s startup speed.

Performance Metrics

According to Epic’s data, the new launcher boasts a cold startup time of 5.47 seconds, a significant improvement compared to Steam’s 10.07 seconds—a claim that Epic markets as a 46% speed increase. However, this advantage was short-lived. A recent post by user @girlglock_ on the platform X suggests that the Steam client has since improved, now starting in just 5.23 seconds.

This isn’t a hasty response from Valve; the October 13 update for Steam lists “Improved Steam Client startup performance” and indicates that optimizations began as early as September for those using the beta client. Nonetheless, no specific performance figures have been released by Valve.

Methodology and Considerations

Epic’s performance claims were derived from testing conducted by Keywords Studios, which involved averaging startup times across five tests on 13 different machines, excluding the lowest-performing systems. While this method provides an overall estimate, actual startup times may differ between individual setups.

It’s also worth noting that the current version of the Epic Games Launcher is relatively bare in terms of features; users engaged in competitive gameplay for titles like Fortnite and Rocket League are advised to continue using the previous launcher during this preview phase. Additionally, the newly developed launcher will support Linux natively, with Fortnite set to follow after enhancements to its anti-cheat system are finalized. The incorporation of “vibe coding” aligns with Epic’s commitment to an AI-first approach to development.

Steam’s Recent Updates

Startup performance is just one aspect of a comprehensive update released by Steam on October 13. This significant update introduces a variety of features aimed at enhancing user experience:

• Big Art Mode: This new feature enriches the background with artwork from highlighted games and can be activated in Home settings.
• Big Picture Mode: Users can now enjoy customizable screensavers that include art from recently played games and user-uploaded in-game screenshots, as well as a retro-style logo.
• Personal Calendar: This feature has been included in the Recommended tab of the Home screen.
• Remote Play Enhancements: An experimental video codec dubbed Pyrowave aims to improve streaming performance on high-latency networks.
• Linux Compatibility: Non-Steam Windows games now default to running through Proton on Linux systems.
• Steam Controller Improvements: The Steam Controller firmware update allows users a second Bluetooth pairing slot, and supports switching TVs to the Steam Machine using HDMI CEC.

A detailed changelog accompanies the update, encompassing numerous fixes related to Steam Input, overlays, and game recording functionalities.

Conclusion

As Epic Games continues to refine its launcher with the promise of enhanced performance, Steam is in the midst of a substantial update aimed at improving user experience. Both platforms are working to provide better performance and increased functionality, making it an exciting time for gamers across different systems.