The debate over which PC game launcher offers the snappiest experience has intensified following a bold claim from Epic Games. The company recently asserted that the Epic Games Launcher is faster than the Steam client, a statement that arrived on the exact same day Valve pushed a significant update to Steam designed to improve startup performance. This timing provided a unique opportunity to measure how these two giants of PC gaming handle their initial boot sequences on modern hardware.
Benchmarking the Launchers
To determine how these platforms compare in real-world conditions, testing was conducted using an iBuyPower prebuilt system equipped with an RTX 4070 Super. The results highlight distinct differences in how each application initializes its environment. While Valve has focused on optimizing the Steam client to reduce wait times, the Epic Games Launcher maintains a leaner footprint during the startup phase.
- Steam Client Average Load Time: 9.32 seconds
- Epic Games Launcher Average Load Time: 5.98 seconds
- Testing Hardware: iBuyPower prebuilt with an RTX 4070 Super
The data shows that the Epic Games Launcher holds a measurable advantage in raw startup speed, clocking in at 5.98 seconds compared to Steam's 9.32 seconds. However, it is worth noting that both platforms have seen recent efforts to streamline their processes. Valve's official announcement confirms that the latest update specifically targets startup performance, which is a welcome change for users who frequently toggle between different storefronts.
What This Means for Players
For the average player, these numbers represent a minor difference in daily routine. If you are someone who keeps your launcher open in the background, the startup speed is less critical than the overall resource management of the application. Epic's faster load time is impressive, but Steam's update shows that Valve is actively listening to feedback regarding client bloat. Ultimately, the competition between these two storefronts is pushing both companies to refine their software, which is a win for anyone who just wants to get into their games as quickly as possible. Whether you prefer the feature-rich environment of Steam or the streamlined approach of Epic, the current state of both launchers is more responsive than it was just a few months ago.