Riot Games’ Valorant Successfully Reduces PC Cheating with Vanguard System

Multiplayer games on PC were notoriously plagued in 2020, particularly during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Developers like those behind Call of Duty: Warzone and PUBG struggled to combat the surge in cheating using aimbots and wallhacks. However, Riot Games’ Valorant stood out, boasting an aggressive anti-cheat system known as Vanguard. Four years later, it’s fair to say that Vanguard has been remarkably effective.

What Makes Vanguard Different?

Riot Games’ Vanguard is a unique anti-cheat system that leverages advanced methodologies to keep cheaters at bay. According to Phillip Koskinas, the director of anti-cheat for Valorant:

“We don’t see as many of the cheats that try to function on the machine and get access. That has just become too much of a chore for cheat developers.”

This aligns with the earlier findings that 80% of cheats in Valorant are now triggerbots, using screen readers to shoot enemies. Vanguard’s effectiveness can be attributed to controversial methods, such as using a kernel-level driver that continually monitors the system.

The Evolution of Vanguard

Since its inception, Vanguard has made it significantly harder for PC gamers to use cheats:

• Kernel-Level Driver: A key component of Vanguard is its kernel-level driver, which runs in the background, even after the game has launched. This driver continuously monitors for suspicious activities, such as cheat engine access.
• Direct Memory Access (DMA): Riot Games has discovered a new trend where cheaters use separate PCs with specialized cards to scan the memory of Valorant, gaining an advantage through radar systems. Vanguard can detect and block these DMA attempts, further mitigating cheating.

Implications for Modern PC Gaming

While Valorant has managed to reduce cheating to a significant extent, other games seem to struggle:

• Call of Duty: Warzone: Despite Riot’s success, other games like Call of Duty: Warzone still face challenges against sophisticated cheating techniques. Activision has faced criticism for not allocating sufficient resources to its anti-cheat systems.
• Fortnite and Other Games: Fornite also uses a kernel-level system, but games like Counter-Strike 2 and Team Fortress 2 lag far behind in the anti-cheat race, rank at the bottom according to recent studies.

Industry Developments and Challenges

Developers are constantly adapting to new threats, especially with the increase in AI technology:

• AI-Powered Cheats: The advent of AI is increasing concerns about newly sophisticated cheating techniques that could exploit human-like input patterns. Vanguard’s research into human input is just one example of Riot’s proactive stance against these future threats.
• Future Concerns: Koskinas highlights the possibility of AI competing with anti-cheat systems, potentially resetting the battle against cheating.

Miscellaneous Pursuits

Riot is also exploring potential solutions involving Windows kernel protections and increasing synchronization with Microsoft Security updates. This direction aligns with Microsoft’s perspective on CrowdStrike and other security vendors. Campaigns aimed at reducing kernel access and promoting a more secure Windows environment could aid games like Valorant and others in the fight against cheating.

Conclusion

It’s clear that Valorant’s anti-cheat system, Vanguard, has set new benchmarks in the industry. By capitalizing on kernel-level security, sophisticated DMA detection, and advanced cheat engine analysis, Riot has managed to substantially curtail cheating. While challenges persist, especially with the rise of AI-powered cheats, Riot’s approach demonstrates a robust framework that other developers would do well to learn from.

Call to Action

Gaming enthusiasts face a challenging environment, and robust anti-cheat systems like Vanguard are essential for maintaining a fair and enjoyable gaming experience. If you want to join the discussion on how to improve the future of gaming by combating cheating, we invite you to share your thoughts on our community forums.

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