Steam Client: Valve Quietly Beats Epic Launcher Speed Claim
By Indie Kings | October 25, 2026
Updated October 25, 2026: Valve quietly shipped a Steam client startup boost on October 13, and a user measurement taken October 14 put Steam startup at 5.23 seconds, just under the 5.47 seconds Epic Games was advertising for its rebuilt launcher.
Image: Steam client logo via Wikimedia Commons.
The timing
Epic Games had just launched its Epic Games Launcher Preview on Windows, macOS and Linux, and was advertising it as 1.8 times faster to start than Steam. One day earlier, Valve had shipped a Steam client update that includes a line Valve describes as improved Steam Client startup performance, and another change that stops the Steam window from stealing focus if you switch to another application during startup.
The numbers
A startup test posted by user girlglock on X shows Steam opening in 5.23 seconds after Valve update. That is 4.84 seconds faster than the 10.07 second Steam figure Epic published, and slightly below the 5.47 second number Epic quotes for its own launcher.
The two tests are not equivalent
| Metric | Epic quoted (Keywords Studios) | Community test (girlglock) |
|---|---|---|
| Steam startup | 10.07 seconds | 5.23 seconds |
| Steam flavor | Oct 13 update already applied | Oct 13 update already applied |
| Epic Launcher Preview | 5.47 seconds | Not retested by user |
| Runs per result | Five tests per machine, 3 lowest end systems excluded | One user run on own system |
| Controls | Independent tester commissioned by Epic | Different hardware, startup conditions and methods |
The gaming press picked this up via VideoCardz, who note that there is no confirmation both tests used identical hardware or measurement methods. The takeaway stays the same, though: Steam startup got faster right before a rival marketing sprint centered exactly on that number.
FAQ
How fast does Steam now start?
A user test after Valve update reports 5.23 seconds; per VideoCardz, the official Steam prefix for the update is improved Steam Client startup performance.
How fast is Epic Launcher Preview?
Epic quotes 5.47 seconds, measured by Keywords Studios across five runs per machine with 3 lowest end systems excluded.
Did Epic exaggerate?
No, per source, Epic published real numbers; the issue is that Valve sped up Steam right before Epic compares against it.
Was Steam at 10.07 seconds?
That is what Epic published after the update; a user report came in at 5.23 seconds.
Is the comparison fair?
Per VideoCardz, no confirmation that both tests used the same hardware or methods.
What else changed in the Oct 13 client update?
Steam no longer steals focus during startup if you switch to another application.
Bottom Line
Epic spent Oct 15 selling a launcher speed win built on a 10.07 second Steam number. Valve shipped a client update a day earlier, and one user now measures Steam at 5.23 seconds. Whether that figure holds in controlled testing is the open question, but the narrative is in motion.
Sources
- VideoCardz: Steam Client now launches faster than Epic new launcher, Oct 15 2026, accessed 25 October 2026
- Valve Steam changelog link via VideoCardz (Steam community update Oct 13 2026)
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