EpicGamesLauncher

EpicGamesLauncher.exe is the Epic Games Launcher, Epic's PC client and storefront. Required for Fortnite, Rocket League (since the Epic acquisition), Fall Guys (since the Epic acquisition), Unreal Engine, and a growing list of third-party titles distributed through the Epic Games Store (launched 2018).

What installing it does to your system: the launcher runs as a user-mode process with no kernel driver. It auto-starts at Windows boot by default, stays resident for friend presence and downloads, and manages an Epic Games account, payment information, and the library. Companion process: EpicWebHelper.exe (the Chromium-based renderer for the store and library UI).

Notable controversies in the launcher's public record include early concerns about the launcher's access to local Steam friends list data (acknowledged by Epic, framed as a one-time import for a feature); the wider EGS-exclusivity debate that frustrated parts of the PC audience; and Epic's antitrust litigation against Apple and Google. If you have Fortnite or any other Epic-published title installed, this launcher is expected. Two-factor authentication on the Epic Games account is the practical hygiene step.