Epic Games
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Former Valve writer says Gabe Newell has been pretty clear about Steam: "It's an MMO"
Former Valve writer Chet Faliszek shared Gabe Newell's perspective that Steam is essentially an MMO, emphasizing its features for player expression and account progression. Faliszek contrasted this with the Epic Games Store, which he believes lacks a clear design direction and compelling features for broad player engagement.
"Our industry is rotting" and AI "pushed things over the edge," so the creator of DayZ wants to change how games are made with some of the smartest devs in the industry
DayZ creator Dean Hall believes the game industry is fundamentally flawed and that AI development has exacerbated these issues. To combat this, Hall and his studio RocketWerkz have released "Brutal," an open-source C# framework intended to offer an alternative to mainstream engines like Unity and Unreal Engine, empowering developers with more control and independence.
Fortnite is coming to Linux so we may soon be able to play it and other games like Apex Legends on Steam Deck and Steam Machine
Epic Games is officially developing Linux support for Fortnite, which could enable it to run on Steam Deck and other Linux-based systems. This move is also significant for anti-cheat compatibility, as Epic's Easy Anti-Cheat service will be tested in Fortnite on Linux, potentially improving support for other games. While no timeline is provided, this effort aims to bring anti-cheat parity between Windows and Linux.
'Little Tim is so obsessed with Gabe': Former Valve writer baffled by Epic CEO Tim Sweeney's attempts to…
Former Valve writer Chet Faliszek criticizes Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney's recent announcement for the Epic Games Store, particularly Sweeney's perceived obsession with Gabe Newell and his yachts. Faliszek argues that Epic's approach to its launcher, including its focus on 'vibe coding' and comparisons to Steam, is baffling and alienates players seeking community and agency.
"Little Tim is so obsessed with Gabe" – Ex-Valve dev not impressed by Epic's updated Steam rival or…
Former Valve writer Chet Faliszek criticized Epic Games' recent update to its store launcher, particularly its reliance on generative AI and the company's communication strategy. Faliszek highlighted Tim Sweeney's perceived obsession with Gabe Newell and questioned the overall direction and feature set of the Epic Games Store compared to Steam's ecosystem.
Accused of using AI in World of Warcraft: Forever videos, Blizzard employee says "hell nah" – we have…
Blizzard Entertainment has denied allegations that generative AI was used in promotional videos for the upcoming MMO World of Warcraft: Forever. The company's digital marketing manager and social media manager both stated that real team members and voice actors were involved in the creation of the advertisements, pushing back against the controversial technology.
DayZ creator Dean Hall releases open-source game development framework Brutal
Industry veteran Dean Hall, known for DayZ, has launched Brutal, a free, open-source C# game development framework developed by his companies Ahwoo and RocketWerkz. Hall criticizes major engines like Unity and Unreal for failing to be accountable to developers and potentially exploiting them through restrictive licensing as agentic workflows emerge. Brutal aims to offer developers more control and options, with several projects already utilizing it.
Epic said its game launcher was faster than Steam on the same day Steam got a speed boost—so I've put both to…
A comparison of the Epic Games Launcher and Steam's client performance found the Epic Games Launcher to be faster in loading times. While Epic Games claimed its launcher was faster, Valve also released a Steam update improving its startup performance on the same day. Despite Epic's speed advantage in benchmarks, the author still prefers Steam due to its user interface and features.
DayZ creator Dean Hall says "our industry is rotting from its core" because of big-company "greed", aiming shots at Epic's Unreal and Unity
DayZ creator Dean Hall has strongly criticized the current state of the game industry, citing
Epic’s New Launcher Targets Shorter Waits, But Linux Must Wait
Epic Games has released a preview of its redesigned launcher, which claims significantly faster store and library loading times compared to Steam. The new client utilizes AI-first development principles, but Linux users will have to wait for access to the preview build.
Valve beats Epic to the punch, updates Steam launcher 1 day before its rival claims to be "faster" thanks to…
Valve has updated the Steam launcher with improved startup performance, seemingly in response to Epic Games' claims of a faster, AI-enhanced launcher. Early tests and user reports indicate that Steam now boots up faster than the newly updated Epic Games Store launcher, contradicting Epic's assertions.
Epic Games claims its new "vibe coded" launcher runs 46% faster than Steam from cold start to store page
Epic Games has released a beta version of its new launcher, claiming it is 46% faster than Steam from a cold start to the store page. The company stated that AI was used as a tool in its development process to improve efficiency and speed up the rewrite of the codebase. This move follows reports of Epic shifting to an 'AI-first' production model, leading to delays in a Disney collaboration.
Evening Reading - October 14, 2026
This edition of Shacknews Evening Reading covers several gaming news items, including Rockstar Games' statement on future development timelines after Grand Theft Auto 6, details on The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake features like an enemy gallery and Amiibo support, and the announcement of the pocket-sized Xbox Nano Controller. Epic Games is bringing Fortnite to Linux, and World of Warcraft: Forever is implementing a Temporary Economy Holds system. The article also notes renewed interest in Star Wars games and celebrates the anniversary of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky.
No more hand-written code? Epic's Disney project reportedly shifts to 'AI-First' development
Epic Games has reportedly mandated a significant shift towards an "AI-first" development model for an upcoming Disney game, leading to a delay. Developers are instructed to heavily utilize AI for code and art generation, with the director stating "no more hand-written code." Epic CEO Tim Sweeney confirmed a company-wide pivot to "maximum AI acceleration" to enable teams to build more and better content.
Epic Is Overhauling Its Anti-Cheat So That Fortnite Can Finally Come To A New Platform
Epic Games is overhauling its Easy Anti-Cheat system to enable a native Linux version of Fortnite, addressing issues that previously prevented multiplayer games from supporting the operating system. This initiative, which will also benefit other developers, is being piloted on Linux through the Epic Games Store launcher. The company is also experimenting with AI-developed software, though this has led to some bugs and concerns about data privacy.
Epic throws shade at Steam, admits to vibe-coding the new Epic Games Launcher with AI "to be faster than the other guy"
Epic Games has developed a new version of its PC launcher using generative AI, aiming to make it faster than Valve's Steam platform. While acknowledging potential bugs, Epic is encouraging user feedback. This move is part of a broader company push towards an "AI first" development pipeline, which may also influence Unreal Engine.
Epic Games delays a Marvel and Star Wars extraction shooter in order to pivot to an ‘AI first’ production model
Epic Games has reportedly delayed an upcoming Marvel and Star Wars extraction shooter to implement an "AI first" production model, instructing developers to use generative AI for art and eliminate "hand-written code." CEO Tim Sweeney stated the company is pivoting to "maximum AI acceleration" to build more and better content, framing it as a necessary step to "survive the AI revolution."
Fortnite is finally coming to Linux thanks to Epic rebuilding Easy Anti-Cheat, though Steam Deck support is still in the wind
Epic Games is rebuilding its Easy Anti-Cheat software to enable Fortnite to run on Linux, with a new version called EAC Linux v2. While this update aims to improve protection against cheaters, it will not initially support the Steam Deck due to its current technical limitations. The Epic Games Launcher also received a preview release for Linux.
Epic Games confirms it's bringing Fortnite to Linux
Epic Games has confirmed that Fortnite will be released on Linux, with the company rebuilding its Easy Anti-Cheat software to support the operating system. This move is expected to make Fortnite playable on devices like the Steam Deck without workarounds. Epic is also calling for collaboration with Linux distro maintainers to bring fair multiplayer gaming to the platform.
Epic's bulletproof plan to outdo Steam: "We vibe coded the Epic Games Launcher"
Epic Games has significantly improved the performance of the Epic Games Store launcher, claiming it is now 46% faster than Steam. This overhaul, partly achieved through AI-generated code, introduces features like a "recent games" list and an improved download hub. While the improvements are noted, the article also points out the marginal gains in some areas and mentions Epic's recent layoffs.
