Valorant Implements Anti-Cheat Updates After Massive Ban Wave

Summary

• Valorant is introducing ranked rollbacks to combat hackers by reversing progress or rank if a match is affected by cheating.
• These measures aim to penalize cheaters and ensure fair play for all Valorant players.
• Players on the same team as hackers will retain their rank rating, avoiding any unfair penalties.

Valorant is taking decisive action against the recent surge of hackers with the introduction of ranked rollbacks. Phillip Koskinas, Riot Games' head of anti-cheat, has issued a stern warning to cheaters, emphasizing that Riot now has the capability to "hit so much harder" with these new changes.

Cheating remains a significant challenge for many online games, as players seek unfair advantages. Despite Valorant boasting one of the most robust anti-cheat systems in the industry, a recent increase in hacking has disrupted the gaming experience for many. In response, Riot Games is implementing stricter penalties to curb this issue.

Koskinas used Twitter to address the cheating problem directly, reassuring the Valorant community that the studio is actively working on a solution. The upcoming ranked rollback system will reverse players' progress or rank if their match was compromised by cheaters. He highlighted the effectiveness of Riot's Vanguard system by sharing a chart showing the number of cheaters banned in January, with a peak on January 13.

Riot Games' Future Valorant Bans Will Include Ranked Rollbacks

A concerned player raised the issue of fairness when winning a match with a cheater on their team, noting the injustice to both the opposing team and their own teammates. Koskinas clarified that in such scenarios, players on the same team as hackers will keep their rank rating, while the opposing team will have their rating restored. He acknowledged potential inflationary effects but expressed confidence in moving forward with this strategy.

Valorant's Vanguard system, known for its kernel-level security on PCs, has been highly effective in detecting and banning cheaters. Its success has inspired other games, such as Call of Duty, to adopt similar systems to combat hacking. Despite these efforts, cheaters continue to find new ways to infiltrate games.

With thousands of bans already issued, Valorant's commitment to tackling the hacker issue is clear. Riot Games is determined to reduce the impact of the latest wave of hackers. The effectiveness of the new ranked rollback technique will be closely watched by the gaming community.