Valorant Enhances Anti-Cheat Measures in Wake of Ban Wave

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

Valorant is escalating its fight against cheaters with the introduction of ranked rollbacks. This new anti-cheat measure reverses player rank progression if a match is compromised by hackers. The goal is to deter cheating and ensure fair gameplay for all Valorant players. Importantly, players who were unfortunately teamed with cheaters will retain their rank, preventing unfair penalties for legitimate players.

The recent surge in cheating activity prompted Riot Games to implement this stricter approach. Phillip Koskinas, Riot's head of anti-cheat, publicly addressed the issue, assuring players of the studio's commitment to resolving the problem and hinting at even more powerful anti-cheat capabilities. He highlighted the significant number of bans issued by Vanguard, Riot's kernel-level anti-cheat system, in January alone, demonstrating its ongoing effectiveness.

Ranked Rollbacks: How They Work

The ranked rollback system addresses a key concern: what happens when a legitimate player wins a match with a cheater on their team? Koskinas clarified that players on the same team as hackers will keep their current rank rating. Conversely, the opposing team will have their rank adjusted to compensate for the unfair match outcome. While acknowledging potential inflationary effects on the ranking system, Riot believes this strategy is necessary to maintain fair play.

Valorant's Vanguard system, known for its robust kernel-level access, has served as a benchmark for other games battling cheating. Despite past successes in banning thousands of cheaters, the persistent nature of cheating requires ongoing adaptation and stronger countermeasures. The effectiveness of the ranked rollback system remains to be seen, but it signifies Riot's unwavering dedication to providing a clean and competitive environment for all Valorant players.