SIGNALInfrastructure Software·Jun 19, 2026, 1:57 PMSignal55Short term

Epic Games unveils Launcher V2 in re-attempt to topple Steam, says redesigned storefront is up to 6.5x faster — promises player profiles, user reviews, universal controller support, and much more

Source: Tom's Hardware

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Epic Games unveils Launcher V2 in re-attempt to topple Steam, says redesigned storefront is up to 6.5x faster — promises player profiles, user reviews, universal controller support, and much more

Epic Games has just shown off a new year-long roadmap for its launcher, promising to bring community-requested features and a faster overall platform in the next 12 months.

Why this matters
Why now

Epic Games is making a renewed push to compete with Steam, driven by community feedback and ongoing efforts to expand its market share in the digital PC game distribution. This update is likely timed with increased gaming activity or upcoming releases.

Why it’s important

This move by Epic Games represents a significant investment in improving its platform, which could alter the competitive landscape of PC game distribution and potentially drive innovation across the sector. A more robust Epic Games Store could challenge Steam's dominance more effectively.

What changes

The Epic Games Launcher will offer improved performance, new social features, and better universal controller support, making it a more attractive platform for both developers and players. This upgrade aims to address previous criticisms and enhance user experience.

Winners
  • · Epic Games
  • · PC gamers
  • · Game developers
Losers
  • · Valve (Steam)
Second-order effects
Direct

Epic Games gains a more competitive position in the digital PC game market, attracting more users and developers.

Second

Increased competition could force Steam to accelerate its own platform improvements and feature development to retain its user base.

Third

The enhanced Epic Games ecosystem could facilitate further integration with other Epic products, potentially impacting the broader creative software and metaverse landscapes.

Editorial confidence: 85 / 100 · Structural impact: 35 / 100
Original report

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Read at Tom's Hardware
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