Steam Startup Drops to 5.23 Seconds as Epic Games Claims Its New Launcher Is Faster
Valve has improved Steam's startup performance just as Epic Games promotes its redesigned launcher as 46% faster than its competitor. Following a recent Steam client update, a community benchmark recorded a cold startup time of 5.23 seconds, narrowly beating the 5.47 seconds advertised for Epic's new AI assisted launcher. However, the results come from different testing environments and do not establish which platform is consistently faster.
On October 14, Epic Games released its redesigned Launcher Preview, developed using AI assisted programming in an entirely new software architecture. According to benchmarks conducted by Keywords Studios and commissioned by Epic, the launcher achieved a cold startup time of 5.47 seconds compared with Steam's 10.07 seconds, representing a 46% reduction in loading time. Epic also reported faster library navigation, reduced background resource consumption, and improved store responsiveness.
However, Valve's Steam Client Update, dated October 13, included startup performance improvements alongside numerous interface and stability fixes. Although the update was published before Epic's announcement, its performance benefits attracted attention after a community benchmark shared on X reportedly demonstrated Steam launching in just 5.23 seconds.
this is such a good day to be a sweeney hater.. not even 24h later lmao https://t.co/XXLcIqYTT7
— dea (@girlglock_) October 15, 2026
Epic Games Launcher vs Steam Startup Performance
| Launcher | Cold Startup | Test Source |
|---|---|---|
| Epic Games Launcher Preview | 5.47 seconds | Epic commissioned benchmark |
| Steam, Epic Benchmark | 10.07 seconds | Epic commissioned benchmark |
| Steam, October Update | 5.23 seconds | Separate community test |
These measurements do not represent a controlled comparison of the updated Steam client against Epic's launcher. Performance varies by hardware, operating system, and startup conditions.
Beyond startup improvements, Valve's update introduces Big Art Mode, new screensavers, Steam Input refinements, Remote Play improvements, and fixes for game recording and the interface. Meanwhile, Epic's redesigned launcher introduces native Linux support, improved library management, and integrated game shortcuts from other PC platforms.
The timing highlights the increasingly competitive relationship between both storefronts. Epic's latest release follows its broader Launcher V2 overhaul, which aims to address longstanding complaints about performance and usability. While the new launcher demonstrates promising results, Epic acknowledges that the Preview remains incomplete and will continue receiving improvements before its stable release.
The comparison demonstrates why launcher performance matters, but startup speed alone does not determine the better gaming platform. Epic's decision to rebuild its software using AI assisted development is an interesting technical achievement, while Valve's optimization shows that an established application can still deliver meaningful performance improvements.
The reported 5.23 second result is encouraging, but independently controlled testing is necessary before declaring a performance winner. Ultimately, gamers benefit when competition encourages faster applications, better resource management, and more reliable experiences.
Would faster startup times convince you to use the Epic Games Launcher more often, or do Steam's existing features and ecosystem remain more important?
