The hidden hardware war between game developers and cheaters just escalated Riot Games recently took a decisive step in the battle against cheating by rendering high-cost hardware devices useless, a move that marks a significant shift in the ongoing conflict between developers and cheaters. The company’s action, which involved turning expensive cheating hardware into what it called “six-thousand-dollar paperweights,” represents a breakthrough in the fight against cheating tools that operate beyond traditional software layers. This development signals a new phase in the arms race between game developers and cheaters, as it demonstrates the ability to target hardware-level cheating for the first time. The implications extend far beyond individual games like Valorant or League of Legends, raising broader questions about the extent to which developers can intervene in player systems to maintain fairness. The evolution of cheating in competitive games has long been mirrored by advancements in anti-cheat technology, creating a cycle of innovation and counter-innovation. Initially, cheating tools were simple software applications that modified memory, but as developers improved their detection methods, cheaters adapted by embedding their software deeper into operating systems. This led to the rise of kernel-level anti-cheat systems, which operate at the core of a computer’s architecture. One of the most notable examples is Riot’s Vanguard anti-cheat system, introduced with Valorant. While praised for its effectiveness in preventing unfair advantages, it also sparked debates over privacy and system security due to its extensive access to hardware and persistent background operation. Despite these measures, cheaters found new ways to bypass detection by leveraging hardware.#valorant #riot_games #league_of_legends #vanguard #dma_cards
Riot Games Disables $6000 Hardware Cheats via Updated Anti-Cheat System Riot Games has deployed a new update to its Vanguard anti-cheat software, targeting hardware-based cheating devices used in competitive gaming. The update specifically blocks PCIe direct memory access (DMA) cards, which can cost up to $6000. These devices bypass game security systems by reading RAM data without operating system interference. The latest version of Vanguard detects such hardware modules and disables their connection through the hardware IOMMU function, a security feature designed to isolate peripheral devices from system memory. When the anti-cheat system identifies a rogue DMA card, it prevents the operating system from booting if the device is connected. Users must physically remove the card and reinstall the system to restore functionality. The cheating equipment becomes unusable in Riot Games’ titles, as the software effectively renders the devices ineffective. Riot Games representatives confirmed the method’s effectiveness, calling the blocked hardware “useless pieces of plastic worth $6000.” These DMA cards are often disguised as legitimate hardware, such as solid-state drives or network adapters, making them difficult to detect. The updated Vanguard software now analyzes firmware at the kernel level, identifying counterfeit digital signatures to distinguish between genuine and malicious components. While the system has successfully thwarted cheaters, some users have raised concerns about its potential to interfere with physical computer components, though no concrete incidents have been reported. The move underscores Riot Games’ commitment to maintaining fair play in its titles, particularly in games like League of Legends and Valorant, where competitive integrity is critical.#riot_games #vanguard #dma_cards #linux_kernel #competitive_gaming
