Epic Games rolls out V2 launcher rebuild and store upgrades

Epic Games has unveiled a major overhaul of its Epic Games Store and launcher, promising a faster, more social, and feature-rich platform over the next year. The plans, detailed at the company's Unreal Fest event in Chicago on June 18, 2026, include a ground-up rebuild of the launcher, a redesigned storefront, and the long-awaited introduction of written player reviews and user profiles.

A central focus is a complete technical rebuild of the Epic Games Launcher, which company executives have publicly criticized for its performance. The new version, dubbed Launcher V2, is promised to boot up to five times faster on average and significantly improve responsiveness. Epic Games Store vice president Steven Allison had previously acknowledged the launcher's shortcomings, stating last February that work had begun on a fundamental overhaul.

The storefront itself will receive a redesign aimed at improving game discovery through personalized recommendations based on a user's interests and play history. The update will also introduce built-in patch notes from developers, allowing players to view update information directly within the store.

A suite of highly requested social and community...