Epic Games Store just added a new feature – and the Internet can’t stop laughing

The Epic Games Store is one of the leading gaming platforms alongside Steam and GOG. However, much of its success is driven by free games and exclusive deals rather than the quality of the platform itself. Even Epic CEO Tim Sweeney recently described the launcher as “clunky,” and Store Director Steve Allison admitted at Unreal Fest Orlando that they are “still a long way from an ideal user experience.” Now, Epic appears ready to make improvements – beginning with the introduction of a feature that’s been standard on other platforms for years: preloading.

According to an announcement in Epic Games' official forum, players can now preload pre-ordered titles up to five days (120 hours) before release. The game files are encrypted and will only be unlocked on launch day.

The benefit is obvious: players who pre-order large titles over 100 GB – like the upcoming Battlefield 6 – no longer need to wait for hours on release day. Instead, they can download the game in advance and start playing the moment it launches. This is especially helpful for users with slower internet connections. Developers also gain from this feature, as it helps ease server load and minimize launch-day issues.

For now, preloading is limited to select titles. Developers must actively request the feature through Epic Games Support. To enable it, they need BuildPatch Tool version 1.8 or higher, activated encryption and approved pre-orders. Epic says the rollout will be gradual.

Gamers mock the announcement

As expected, the gaming community reacted mostly with criticism. On Reddit, many users mocked the announcement, calling the new preload feature something that should have been standard years ago. “I had to read the headline three times to understand it… they’re announcing a feature that’s been standard for decades,” one user wrote. Another described it as a “welcome to 2025” moment. Some also voiced hopes for additional improvements, such as the option to preload updates and DLCs.