Epic Launches AI‑Generated Launcher and Announces Linux Anti‑Cheat Upgrade

Epic Games announced a preview version of its new Epic Games Launcher and revealed a plan to bring Fortnite to Linux with a revamped Easy Anti‑Cheat. The company said the launcher had been built using AI, a method it calls “vibe coding.” The announcement also mentioned an upcoming version of Easy Anti‑Cheat that would support Linux, allowing multiplayer games to run on the platform. The two announcements were released on the same day and were highlighted by several tech outlets.

Epic described the new launcher as being “vibe coded,” a process where the company gives AI a plain‑language description of what it wants and the system writes the code. The company says the result is a launcher that is faster and more responsive than the current one. Epic also described the preview as having a new look and a light set of features, joking that it feels like a “speedboat rather than a yacht.” The company also said the launcher includes advanced digital commerce technology such as a shopping cart.

Epic claims the new launcher can start in an average of 5.47 seconds from a cold start, which it says is 46% faster than Steam. It also says the launcher offers snappier navigation between the library and store, and uses less system resources while running in the background.

The Linux anti‑cheat update, dubbed EAC Linux v2, will rebuild the existing Easy Anti‑Cheat to work without a kernel driver, using signed kernels, signed modules, and secure‑boot attestation. Epic plans to pilot the new system first in Fortnite, testing it in a live environment and then making it available to other developers. The update also aims to bring Fortnite to Linux via the new launcher.

Epic said it is working with Linux distribution maintainers to meet the security requirements needed for the new anti‑cheat, and it will host a panel with Fedora leader Jef Spatela to discuss the path to fair competitive gaming on Linux. The company also noted it is in conversation with Valve about enabling the technology on the Steam Deck. The preview currently supports Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or newer, Fedora 43 or newer, and Debian 12 or newer.

The announcement has drawn criticism for the use of AI in the launcher. Some readers have expressed concern that code produced by an AI could contain bugs or security risks that are hard to fix if no human developer is familiar with it. An early review from a user who tried the preview on a Linux system called it a buggy mess, though they noted the launcher booted quickly.