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 those unwittingly paired with hackers.
The recent surge in cheating 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 on Twitter. He emphasized Riot's enhanced capabilities to combat cheating, stating they can now "hit so much harder." Data shared by Koskinas revealed a significant number of cheater bans in January alone, highlighting the scale of the issue and the ongoing efforts to address it.
Ranked Rollbacks: How They Work
The ranked rollback system directly addresses the unfairness experienced by both teams in matches affected by cheaters. While the opposing team will have their rank adjusted to reflect the illegitimate win, players who played alongside a hacker will keep their current rank. Koskinas admitted this approach might lead to some rank inflation, but Riot believes it's a necessary step to prioritize fair play.
Valorant's Vanguard anti-cheat system, renowned for its kernel-level security, remains a key weapon in this battle. Its effectiveness has inspired other games, such as Call of Duty, to adopt similar measures. Despite past successes in banning thousands of cheaters, the persistent nature of cheating requires ongoing adaptation and stronger countermeasures.
Riot Games' commitment to combating cheating in Valorant is evident. The implementation of ranked rollbacks represents a significant escalation in their efforts. The long-term effectiveness of this new strategy remains to be seen, but it signifies a determined stance against those who undermine the integrity of the game.
