Epic Games is preparing a major overhaul of its desktop launcher with Epic Games Launcher version 2, promising dramatic performance gains that could reshape the PC gaming platform wars. Rumors suggest the new launcher will launch 5 times faster on cold starts and restore from the system tray up to 6.5 times quicker than the current sluggish implementation.

The revamp addresses long-standing complaints about the Epic Games Store's sluggish interface, which has struggled to retain users beyond free game promotions. Former Epic employees previously claimed players only briefly migrated to EGS during giveaways before returning to Steam. The platform reached 78 million monthly active users, but Steam reportedly handles similar traffic in just two to three days.

Beyond speed improvements, Epic is redesigning the storefront around personalization. A scrollable hero section and quick-access categories will help players discover games faster, while product pages will showcase story elements, community activity, and player progression data rather than basic title, price, and rating information.

The 12-month roadmap includes private beta testing, library management improvements, and native third-party patch notes. Later additions span player profiles, user reviews, and social features like messaging and cross-game parties. These changes signal Epic's push to transform EGS from a promotional vehicle into a sustainable gaming destination.