Riot Games has addressed criticism regarding Vanguard, its anti-cheat system for Valorant, assuring that it does not cause physical damage to PC components nor permanently disable devices. The company acknowledges that some players reported system failures, but insists that the software only disables cheating devices during matches, without affecting other functions of the computer.
How Vanguard works at a technical level 🖥️
Vanguard operates at the kernel level, granting it deep access to the operating system to detect and block cheating software in real time. According to the official clarification, the anti-cheat identifies suspicious devices and disables them only while Valorant is running, restoring their functionality when the game is closed. Riot claims it does not interfere with legitimate peripherals or alter PC settings outside the gaming environment, although its invasive nature continues to raise doubts among the community.
Don't worry, Vanguard won't break your mouse 🖱️
Let's be clear, Riot makes it clear: Vanguard won't fry your motherboard or make your keyboard emit smoke. If your mouse suddenly stops working while you're playing, maybe it's not the anti-cheat, but rather you haven't changed the batteries in three years. But hey, it's always easier to blame the software than to admit your setup needs an overhaul.