Riot Games Introduces Optional Anti-Cheat for Enhanced Player Control
Players of Riot Games titles like League of Legends and Valorant can now choose when their anti-cheat software is active, addressing long-standing privacy and performance concerns.
The brief
Riot Games is rolling out a new feature called "Vanguard Pre-Check," allowing players of its popular titles to opt into an on-demand anti-cheat system. This change means the kernel-level anti-cheat driver will no longer automatically launch with the operating system for those with compatible hardware and who enable specific security settings. Instead, the software will activate only when a game is started, offering greater flexibility and potentially assuaging privacy concerns over always-on monitoring. This update responds to player feedback regarding the intrusive nature of the persistent anti-cheat mechanism.
- Riot Games is implementing an optional 'on-demand' anti-cheat activation for its games.
- The new feature, 'Vanguard Pre-Check,' applies to titles such as League of Legends and Valorant.
- Eligible players require specific hardware and must opt into certain pre-boot and native Windows security features.
- The kernel-level anti-cheat driver will now activate upon game launch, rather than system boot.
- This change addresses player concerns about continuous background operation of the anti-cheat software.
Why it matters
This move by Riot Games represents a significant shift in its approach to game security, acknowledging player feedback regarding privacy and system performance. The previous always-on kernel-level anti-cheat, Vanguard, has been a source of contention for many users due to its deep integration and continuous operation, raising concerns about system intrusion and potential vulnerabilities. By offering an opt-in, on-demand solution, Riot aims to balance game integrity with user autonomy. This could improve player satisfaction and trust, potentially retaining more users who were previously discomfited by the persistent software.
Original reporting
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