Epic Games' New AI-Coded Launcher Is Reportedly Full of Bugs & Issues

Earlier this week, Epic Games was bragging about its new vibe-coded launcher being faster than Steam. Now, users are reporting login problems, Fortnite update errors, and frustrating bugs. The early backlash has turned Epic’s big performance flex into a debate about whether vibe coding can deliver reliable software.

Epic’s vibe-coded launcher is already facing complaints

Epic launched the redesigned Epic Games Launcher in Preview. The company openly admitted that it used vibe coding to rebuild the launcher, promising faster startup times and more responsive navigation. Epic claims the new launcher can open the store in 5.47 seconds, compared with 10.07 seconds for Steam. However, those figures come from Epic’s own performance testing, rather than an independent comparison of every feature.

The new version is available in preview for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Epic has also warned users that the initial release is light on features and may contain bugs. The company rebuilt the application from scratch using AI as a development tool. The aim was to reproduce existing functionality with a different technology stack, rather than simply copying the old launcher’s code.

The complaints are now extending beyond the launcher’s design. On X, user Victor Rafael criticized Epic after reportedly being unable to sign in. The complaint directly challenged the company’s claims about making the launcher faster. Another user, Krestii, reported being unable to update Fortnite because of an error. The official Fortnite Status account responded by recommending an Epic Games Launcher update and asked the user to report back.

The problems are also attracting attention on Reddit. In an r/UnrealEngine discussion, a user reported losing quick access to Unreal Engine projects after updating. The same post describes problems opening project files because the Version Selector was missing. Meanwhile, users in an r/Pop_OS discussion reported issues including a blank store page, freezes, and interface elements disappearing after minimizing and reopening the launcher.

These are just a few reports, by the way. There are plenty more out there. Since the launcher is in preview, it is understandable that users may encounter some bugs. If you have tried the new Epic Games Launcher, let us know what you think about it.