Valorant Making Anti-Cheat Changes Following Major Ban Wave

Valorant's New Anti-Cheat Measures: Ranked Rollbacks to Combat Cheaters

Valorant is stepping up its fight against cheaters with a significant new anti-cheat measure: ranked rollbacks. This means that if a ranked match is compromised by cheating, player ranks will be adjusted to undo the unfair advantage gained.

This proactive approach aims to deter cheating and ensure fair gameplay for all Valorant players. The new system is designed to penalize those who cheat while protecting players unfairly affected by cheaters on their own team. Specifically, players who played alongside a cheater will retain their current rank rating, preventing unjust rank demotions.

The recent surge in cheating activity prompted Riot Games to announce these changes. Phillip Koskinas, Riot's head of anti-cheat, confirmed the issue and emphasized the studio's commitment to resolving it, stating that Riot's capabilities to combat cheating are significantly enhanced. He highlighted the substantial number of cheaters banned by Vanguard, Riot's anti-cheat system, particularly the spike in bans on January 13th.

Ranked Rollbacks: How They Work

The rollback system addresses concerns raised by players about the impact of cheaters on both opposing and allied teams. Koskinas clarified that while players on the same team as a cheater will keep their rank, the opposing team will have their rank rating restored. Although this approach might temporarily inflate the overall rank distribution, Riot believes it's a necessary step to maintain fair play.

Valorant's Vanguard anti-cheat system, known for its kernel-level access, has a proven track record of success. Its effectiveness has even influenced other game developers, such as those behind Call of Duty, to adopt similar strategies. Despite past successes, the persistent challenge of cheaters necessitates ongoing adaptation and improvement of anti-cheat technologies.

Riot's commitment to combating cheating is evident in the thousands of previous bans. The introduction of ranked rollbacks represents a significant escalation in their efforts to curb the recent increase in cheating activity. The long-term effectiveness of this new strategy remains to be seen, but it signals a determined effort to create a fairer and more enjoyable competitive environment for all Valorant players.