Epic Games makes its redesigned Epic Games Launcher Preview available on October 14, 2026, for Windows, macOS, and Linux. The Preview updates the game library and download view and adds party voice chat. Native Linux support for the launcher does not make Fortnite available there; Epic describes that as a conditional future plan. Epic’s announcement details the release and its features.
What changes in the Preview
Each game gets a dedicated page for its status, activity, details, and play controls. You can switch the library between grid and list views, create collections, customize a favorites bar, and use live search and filters. Epic also says connected PC libraries can appear together.
The download view groups active, queued, scheduled, and failed downloads, and displays download, read, and write speeds. The Preview also supports party creation and voice chat across Fortnite, the Epic Games Store, and the Epic Games app, and includes a shopping cart. Epic says account details, purchased and installed games, cloud saves, and progress carry over because they remain tied to the user’s Epic account.
Epic describes this first release as feature-light and says it plans to add updates, optimizations, and features during the Preview. Tom’s Hardware reports that the social menu in the Preview it describes cannot be closed or resized. The same publication lists minimums of Windows 10 or 11, macOS 12 or later, Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or later, Fedora 43 or later, and Debian 12 or later. Tom’s Hardware reports those requirements and the menu limitation.
What Epic’s Steam timings measure
Epic reports two specific operations: a cold start and a restore from the system tray. Its figures compare the Preview with Steam, and Epic labels the results as 46% and 14% faster, respectively. Epic’s announcement gives the times:
| Operation | Epic Games Launcher Preview | Steam | Advantage stated by Epic |
| Cold start | 5.47 seconds | 10.07 seconds | 46% faster |
| Restore from system tray | 0.36 seconds | 0.42 seconds | 14% faster |
These timings describe opening and restoring the apps; they do not compare library, download, or social features. Tom’s Hardware’s Jake Roach reports that Epic commissioned Keywords Studios to conduct the comparison. Tom’s Hardware
Linux support does not yet include Fortnite
The launcher runs natively on Linux, but that does not guarantee that every Windows game will run there. HotHardware notes that some Windows-only games may need a compatibility layer, and compatibility depends on the individual game. HotHardware
Epic says Easy Anti-Cheat Linux v2 does not install or load an anti-cheat kernel module. Its systemd service starts when a protected game starts and stops when the game exits. Epic Online Services’ explanation also lists requirements for the Linux setup:
- Signed kernels and kernel modules
- TPM 2.0 enabled in the BIOS
- Secure Boot and measured boot
- IOMMU
- Kernel-lockdown integrity mode
- Disabled kexec
- Active BPF LSM
Epic says these requirements may call for configuration changes. It also says Steam Deck does not currently support features required by EAC Linux v2, while discussions with Valve continue.
Fortnite is not available on Linux through the Preview. Epic plans to bring it to Linux through the launcher once its EAC work is validated and compatible with a critical mass of distribution maintainers.
