Valorant Announces Enhanced Anti-Cheat Measures

Valorant's New Anti-Cheat Measure: Ranked Rollbacks

Valorant is escalating its fight against cheaters with a significant new anti-cheat initiative: ranked rollbacks. This means that if a ranked match is compromised by hackers, affected players' ranks will be adjusted to undo any unfair gains or losses.

This robust approach aims to deter cheating and ensure fair gameplay for all Valorant players. The system is designed to penalize those who cheat while protecting the ranks of players who were unfortunately teamed with hackers. Players on the same team as a cheater will retain their rank rating, preventing unjust penalties for victims of cheating.

The recent surge in cheating activity prompted Riot Games to implement this measure. Phillip Koskinas, Riot's head of anti-cheat, publicly acknowledged the problem and highlighted the studio's intensified efforts to combat it. He emphasized that Riot's capabilities to address cheating have significantly increased, referencing a substantial number of bans issued in January alone, peaking on January 13th. This data underscores Riot's proactive approach.

Impact of Ranked Rollbacks

Addressing concerns about players winning matches with cheaters on their team, Koskinas clarified that those players will maintain their rank. Only the opposing team, unfairly disadvantaged by the cheaters, will have their rank adjusted. While acknowledging potential inflationary effects, Riot believes this strategy is the best course of action.

Valorant's Vanguard anti-cheat system, renowned for its kernel-level security, has been instrumental in identifying and banning thousands of cheaters. Its effectiveness has even inspired similar implementations in other games, like Call of Duty. Despite past successes, the persistent nature of cheating necessitates ongoing adaptation and stronger countermeasures.

The success of the ranked rollback strategy remains to be seen, but Riot's commitment to eradicating cheating in Valorant is evident. This latest initiative demonstrates a proactive and determined approach to maintaining a fair and enjoyable competitive environment.