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 will reverse the rank or progress of players whose matches were compromised by hackers. The goal is to deter cheating and ensure fair gameplay for all Valorant players. Importantly, players who were on the same team as a cheater will retain their rank rating, preventing unfair penalties for legitimate players.
The recent surge in hacking activity in Valorant prompted Riot Games to take decisive action. Phillip Koskinas, Riot's head of anti-cheat, publicly acknowledged the problem and outlined the new strategy. He emphasized Riot's enhanced capabilities to combat cheating, stating they can now "hit so much harder."
Online gaming frequently grapples with the challenge of cheaters exploiting the system for unfair advantages. While Valorant boasts a robust anti-cheat system (Vanguard), a recent increase in hacking necessitated a more aggressive approach.
Koskinas's Twitter post highlighted the significant number of cheaters banned by Vanguard in January alone, with a peak on January 13th. This demonstrates Riot's ongoing efforts to maintain a clean gaming environment.
Ranked Rollbacks: Protecting Players from Cheaters
Addressing concerns about players winning matches with cheaters on their team, Koskinas clarified that such players will not have their rank adjusted. Only the opposing team, unfairly affected by the cheater, will see their rank rating restored. While acknowledging potential inflationary effects, Riot believes this strategy is necessary.
Valorant's Vanguard system, utilizing kernel-level security, has proven highly effective in detecting and banning cheaters. Its success has even inspired similar anti-cheat implementations in other games, such as Call of Duty. However, the persistent ingenuity of cheaters requires ongoing adaptation and stronger countermeasures.
With thousands of players already banned, Riot Games' commitment to eradicating cheating in Valorant is evident. The effectiveness of the new ranked rollback system remains to be seen, but it represents a significant step in the ongoing battle against unfair play.
