Valorant Releases Enhanced Anti-Cheat Measures After Ban Wave

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

Valorant is escalating its fight against cheaters with a new weapon: ranked rollbacks. This system will reverse a player's rank or progress if their match was compromised by hackers. This proactive measure aims to punish cheaters and ensure fair gameplay for all Valorant players. Importantly, players who were on the same team as a hacker will retain their rank rating, preventing unfair penalties for those unintentionally paired with cheaters.

The recent surge in hacking activity prompted Riot Games to announce these stricter measures. Phillip Koskinas, Riot's head of anti-cheat, confirmed the issue and assured players of the studio's commitment to resolving it. He highlighted the effectiveness of Valorant's Vanguard anti-cheat system, citing a significant number of bans in January alone, with a peak on January 13th. This demonstrates Riot's ongoing efforts to combat cheating.

The ranked rollback system addresses a key concern: the impact on players teamed with hackers. Koskinas clarified that while the opposing team will have their rank adjusted, players on the same team as a cheater will not experience a rank decrease. While acknowledging potential inflationary effects, Riot believes this approach is necessary to maintain fair play.

Valorant's Vanguard system, known for its kernel-level security, has served as a model for other games struggling with similar issues. Despite past successes in banning thousands of cheaters, the persistent nature of hacking requires continuous adaptation and stronger countermeasures. The long-term effectiveness of ranked rollbacks remains to be seen, but it represents a significant step in Riot's ongoing battle against cheating in Valorant.