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RespawnFirst reports that a post-update Steam Client cold-booted in about 5.23 seconds, compared with about 5.47 seconds for Epic Games Launcher V2 Preview. The small, reported test suggests Steam edged Epic on startup time, but the source does not provide enough testing detail to establish a broad performance verdict.
Steam Client recorded a slightly quicker cold startup than Epic Games Launcher V2 Preview in a comparison published by RespawnFirst, with reported times of about 5.23 seconds and 5.47 seconds, respectively. The result challenges Epic’s new launcher’s speed pitch, but the report does not provide enough test details to show whether the difference holds across computers or repeated runs.
RespawnFirst says Epic announced and released Launcher V2 in preview the day before its comparison. The outlet describes faster loading as a central marketing point for the new launcher. It then reports that a small Steam Client update brought Steam’s cold-start time below Epic’s in its basic test systems.
The reported table puts Epic at approximately 5.47 seconds for a cold boot and 0.36 seconds for tray restoration. Steam after the patch is listed at approximately 5.23 seconds for a cold boot and 0.42 seconds for tray restoration. That makes Steam faster on the reported cold-start measure by roughly a quarter of a second, while Epic is faster on the separate tray-restore measure.
The source labels Epic’s approach “AI-Assisted” and Steam’s as an “Optimized Modular CEF” architecture. Those descriptions are presented in the report’s table; the article does not supply independent technical documentation or testing that would establish how either launcher was built or explain the measured difference.
A Small Win on Startup Time
For players, the result is a narrow comparison of how long the launchers took to open in one reported set of tests—not a finding that one client is better overall. A difference of about 0.24 seconds may matter to a performance comparison or marketing claim, but the report gives no run count, device specifications, operating-system details, or measurement method with which to judge how repeatable it is.
The figures also show why the specific metric matters: Steam leads on cold boot, while Epic’s listed tray restoration is quicker. Launchers serve different needs beyond startup, including libraries, social tools, discovery, and game-management features. RespawnFirst lists features it says Epic lacks, but that list is the outlet’s characterization and is not a verified, feature-by-feature comparison in the supplied material.
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Epic’s Preview and Steam Update
The report frames the timing as a quick reversal: Epic’s new launcher entered preview with a speed-focused pitch, and Steam’s client then received a small update. RespawnFirst says the update made Steam faster than Epic in its basic startup test. The source does not identify the update’s release date, version number, or specific changes, so the connection between the update and the measured result rests on the report.
Epic Games Launcher V2 is identified as a preview release, rather than a completed final version. The supplied report also contrasts its feature set with Steam’s, naming community functions such as reviews, guides, groups, and mod support, as well as tools including Remote Play and family sharing. These details provide wider platform context, but the reported startup times remain the main measurable comparison.
““~5.47 seconds” for Epic Games Launcher V2 Preview cold startup and “~5.23 seconds” for Steam Client after the patch.”
— RespawnFirst
PC game launcher performance monitor
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Testing Details Remain Limited
The comparison does not state which computer components, operating system, network conditions, or launcher settings were used. It also gives no sample size, repeated-run results, timing procedure, or margin of error. Without those details, it is not possible to determine whether the reported cold-boot gap is repeatable or representative of typical users’ systems.
The source calls the Steam change a small update but does not identify its version or document what changed. It is also unclear whether Epic’s preview build will receive further performance changes. The supplied material does not include a response from Valve or Epic confirming the test or explaining the figures.
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More Tests Could Clarify the Gap
The immediate next step for readers seeking a firmer comparison would be repeatable testing across multiple systems, with the launcher versions, hardware, settings, and measurement method published. That would help establish whether Steam’s reported cold-start lead persists and whether Epic retains its advantage in tray restoration.
Epic’s launcher remains a preview release in the source report, so its performance may change as development continues. Valve may also issue further client updates. No future test, release date, or official response is confirmed in the supplied material.
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Key Questions
Which launcher started faster in the reported test?
Steam Client had the quicker reported cold boot, at about 5.23 seconds versus about 5.47 seconds for Epic Games Launcher V2 Preview.
Was Epic faster on any listed measure?
Yes. The comparison lists Epic’s tray restoration at about 0.36 seconds, compared with about 0.42 seconds for Steam. That is a separate measure from cold startup.
Does this prove Steam is faster for everyone?
No. The report does not provide full test conditions, repeated results, or a range of systems. Its figures describe a limited reported comparison, not a universal result.
Is Epic Games Launcher V2 a final release?
The source describes Launcher V2 as a preview release. It does not give a date for a final version or details of planned changes.
Source: hn
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