Valve updates Steam a day before Epic claims its AI-built launcher is faster

Epic Games overhauled its launcher with generative AI and claimed it is faster than Steam. But Valve shipped a Steam update with improved client startup performance one day earlier, and user tests show Steam launching in about 5 seconds — quicker than Epic's launcher.

• Epic rebuilt its launcher with generative AI and called it faster than Steam
• Valve shipped a Steam update improving client startup a day before Epic's claim
• Users measured Steam launching in about 5 seconds
• The Steam update also improved Big Picture Mode and the in-game overlay