‘The Epic Video games Retailer launcher sucks lower than it used to’ is just not very excessive reward but it surely’s about so far as I am keen to go. It has improved, undeniably, but it surely’s nonetheless painfully sluggish, awkward, and simply not nice to make use of—to not the purpose that I refuse to make use of it, but when I’ve a alternative between Steam and Epic, all else being equal I am going with Steam. My PR buddies at Epic is probably not super-happy to listen to me say that out loud, however I am not the one one who feels that manner: Epic Video games boss Tim Sweeney thinks so too.
“One of many causes that individuals characterize the Epic Video games launcher as clunky is as a result of the Epic Video games launcher is clunky,” Sweeney stated throughout a current interview with Lex Fridman. “We have to enhance this.”
“We have not put sufficient emphasis on the standard of life options. We have acknowledged this very clearly a number of instances and we have gone via a number of refactorings. However you realize, that is positively been a disappointment to us and to quite a lot of customers.”
It has certainly been disappointing: In our 2024 comparability of the numerous launchers out there for PC, Epic scored a depressing 41%—higher than the Microsoft Retailer, EA, and Battlenet, to be truthful, however nonetheless a far cry from Steam, GOG Galaxy, and even Itch.io.
One of many challenges going through Epic, in accordance with Sweeney, is that its launcher’s issues aren’t “uniform,” however can range dramatically relying on the person’s distance to a CDN (content material supply community) and the scale of their assortment. Talking from expertise, that rings true: I do not know the place my neighborhood CDN is however I do have fairly crappy web, and loading up any type of sizable Epic library is an train in frustration—particularly when in comparison with Steam, which flows like water by comparability.
Comparisons with Steam additionally got here up within the interview, naturally: Sweeney reiterated his long-held place that the Epic launcher should not undertake all of the options supplied by Steam, however stated he does need “the entire comfort options that makes it as straightforward and enjoyable to make use of as Steam.”
He additionally predicted—boldly, I’d say—that in the long term, “the advantages of the Epic Video games strategy are going to outweigh the advantages of this Steam strategy, particularly as gaming turns into multi-platform.”
“Your recreation vastly advantages by connecting all of its gamers collectively and never segregating them off into totally different on-line platform populations and so forth,” Sweeney stated. “I believe the longer term development is in that route. I want Valve had opened up Steamworks to simply work on all platforms. They may have simply accomplished it, we did it, however they appear to be utilizing it as a lever to maintain individuals locked into the Steam PC recreation retailer.”
Sweeney additionally took a second to name out “a really poisonous group of Steam customers” who have interaction in “harassment campaigns” towards builders who use Epic On-line Companies. Warhammer 40,000: House Marine 2, for example, suffered a spate of early destructive evaluations on Steam as a result of it robotically put in Epic On-line Companies together with the remainder of the sport in an effort to allow crossplay and synchronized pals lists.
“Builders do this to allow them to join their gamers throughout platforms and have pals throughout platforms and voices throughout platforms,” Sweeney stated. “However, you realize, instantly that is making an attempt to be changed into a destructive.”
Whether or not Sweeney’s prediction that Epic will finally outlast Steam (or, I suppose, that he’ll someday persuade Gabe and firm to open their walled backyard) stays to be seen. For now, although, I believe we will all agree that he is proper that we’re proper in regards to the Epic launcher: It’s positively clunky. Happily, when you’re one of many Epic customers fighting it, there are alternatives: GOG Galaxy will do the job, and for one thing extra purpose-built, Heroic “is miles higher at being the Epic Video games Launcher than the Epic Video games Launcher,” in accordance with PC Gamer dot com.
