#riot_games

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

Riot Games Announces $75,000 Major Tournament for 2XKO at Evo Vegas 2026 Riot Games has confirmed that the fighting game 2XKO will host a major tournament at Evo Vegas 2026, featuring a substantial prize pool and exclusive rewards for participants. The event will include a Riot-sponsored $75,000 prize pool, with the top 24 competitors sharing the funds. This marks the first season of the 2XKO competitive circuit, and the scale of the tournament highlights Riot’s efforts to establish the game within the fighting game community. Evo Vegas 2026 is positioned as a significant milestone for the title, offering a platform to showcase its competitive potential. Competitors at Evo Vegas 2026 will receive the Pool Party Senna skin and an exclusive Senna Evo pin, provided they complete all matches and avoid forfeits. To claim these rewards, players must link their start.gg account to their Riot account. Those who advance past the group stages will unlock the Pool Party Megabundle, which includes the Pool Party Senna, Pool Party Braum, and Pool Party Jinx skins. Riot emphasized that these rewards are tied to early access and event participation rather than exclusivity, as the Megabundle will be available for purchase in-game before the tournament begins. The tournament will also feature a $5,000 Duo Bounty, rewarding the highest-placing duo with a prize that aligns with 2XKO’s focus on 2v2 tag-team play. This format is designed to highlight the game’s unique mechanics, where teamwork and coordination are central to success. The Duo Bounty is expected to add excitement to the event, particularly as teams like SonicFox and INZEM demonstrated strong performances in recent competitions such as Texas Showdown and LVL UP Expo. Their success in these events suggests the potential for high-level competition at Evo Vegas 2026.#riot_games #evo_vegas_2026 #2xko #sonicfox #inzem

League of Legends Introduces WASD Controls for Ranked Matches in Upcoming Patch Riot Games has announced that the long-awaited WASD control scheme for its popular MOBA game, League of Legends, will be implemented in ranked matches starting later this month as part of patch 26.9. This update marks a significant shift in how players navigate the game’s map, offering an alternative to the traditional point-and-click movement system. The change is part of Riot’s broader efforts to enhance accessibility and cater to a wider range of players, including those who prefer keyboard-based controls. The development of WASD controls was first hinted at in August 2023, when Riot revealed its plans to introduce the feature. The studio emphasized its commitment to ensuring the new control scheme did not provide an unfair advantage over the existing mouse-based system. To achieve this, Riot conducted extensive testing to measure the performance gap between the two methods. According to a recent developer blog post, there remains a small difference in win rates between players using WASD and those using point-and-click controls. The post noted that "Point and Click currently has a minor advantage," but the gap is expected to narrow as players adapt to the new system. Riot plans to continue monitoring this metric in the future to refine the feature further. The decision to roll out WASD controls in ranked play was not made lightly. Riot highlighted its focus on balancing the game’s competitive environment, ensuring that the new control scheme would not disrupt the existing meta. The studio also mentioned that the update would be gradually introduced to the ranked ladder, allowing players to adjust without overwhelming the community.#riot_games #league_of_legends #wasd_controls #patch_26_9 #ranked_matches

April Fools' Joke Confirms Locke as Next League of Legends Champion Riot Games officially confirmed that the next League of Legends champion will be Locke, a Demacian comic character, after an April Fools’ joke inadvertently revealed the news. The announcement came through a now-deleted tweet by Pu “Pupulasers” Liu, the game’s director, who humorously claimed that Locke’s release would require removing one existing champion from the roster. This marked the first direct confirmation of Locke as a champion, aligning with the Demacian theme of the current season and following the Shyvana VGU rework. The revelation was tied to a motion comic titled “For the Fallen,” released earlier this year, which introduced Locke as a hooded figure interacting with a bartender. In the comic, the character is warned that “no one that goes into those woods comes back, at least not the same as they were,” a line that resonates with the dark themes of Sona’s recent cinematic and hints at potential lore connections. This narrative thread reinforces the Demacian storyline, which has been a recurring theme in the game’s recent updates. Rumors about Locke’s abilities had already circulated, with speculation suggesting he might be an AP jungler or mid laner using giant nails as part of his kit. Leaked images and tweets from sources like @BigBadBear_ and @LeagueOfLeaks fueled these theories, though no official details have been confirmed. Despite the hype, Riot emphasized that Locke will be the only new champion released in 2026, with the release expected around mid-year. The timeline for Locke’s release was outlined by Andrei “Meddler” van Roon, head of League Studio, who noted that most of the team working on new champions is currently focused on a large update slated for post-MSI.#riot_games #locke #andrei_meddler #pu_pupulasers #demacian

Gameplay of League of Legends' New Champion Locke Leaks Locke, the next champion set to release in League of Legends, has allegedly had footage of his gameplay leak online. The Demacian character, confirmed as LoL’s next champion unintentionally by a Rioter in an April Fools’ tweet, is expected to launch sometime in Season 2, 2026, which will run from April 29 to August 12. So far, Locke’s only appearance was in a motion comic released by Riot earlier in the year, though his in-game design appears to differ significantly from the cloaked figure shown in that comic. Locke is the sole new champion for 2026 and will be released in Season 2, according to a tweet from @LeagueOfLeaks on March 2, 2026. The leaked footage, which has circulated online, shows Locke throwing around a giant nail in what is claimed to be his Q ability. Additionally, the footage includes spooky “sealed artefacts” that spawn around the map for Locke to collect, though their exact function remains unclear. This ghostly theme is likely tied to the lore introduced in the motion comic, where Locke receives a warning from a bartender at a tavern: “No one that goes into those woods comes back, at least not the same as they were.” The lore hints at a darker, more mysterious backstory for the character, which aligns with the eerie elements in the leaked gameplay. Riot Games’ senior vice president, Andrei ‘Meddler’ van Roon, confirmed that only one new champion will be released in 2026. This decision is part of the company’s focus on developing ‘LoL Next,’ a large-scale revamp for the MOBA. Meddler also mentioned that another Demacian champion is set to receive a rework following the Shyvana VGU (Visual and Gameplay Update). While the specifics of this rework remain undisclosed, the community is speculating that it could apply to Quinn or Nocturne.#riot_games #league_of_legends #andrei_meddler #locke #season_2_2026

League of Legends First Stand 2026 Reveals New Revenue Models, Tournament Details Riot Games has unveiled a series of updates for League of Legends esports, including the Warhound Senna skin, expanded fan engagement opportunities, and the structure of the First Stand 2026 tournament. The event, set to take place from March 16 to 22 at the Riot Games Arena in São Paulo, Brazil, will feature a Group Stage followed by a Knockout Stage, with all matches contested as best-of-five series. The Warhound Senna skin will be available for purchase from March 18 to April 15. A portion of the proceeds from its sale will be distributed to LoL Esports teams, offering them an additional revenue stream beyond sponsorships and prize pools. The skin can be bought individually, as part of a border set bundle, or in a chroma bundle, with individual chromas also sold separately. Riot Games has also introduced new perks for Twitch subscribers, including channel badges and event-exclusive chat emotes. Fans who log in with their Riot ID on the LoL Esports official website will remain eligible for Drops, such as an exclusive Evelynn emote during the Finals. The Finals day of the First Stand tournament will coincide with the Runeterra Fan Fest at the Visual Farm Gymnasium in São Paulo. The event will include live viewing of the Finals, gameplay stations for Riot titles, cosplay appearances, and an Artist’s Gallery showcasing local creators. Tickets for the Fan Fest are free and available on a first-come, first-served basis, with league development team members expected to engage with attendees. Major regions have already secured their representatives for the tournament: CBLOL: LOUD LCP: Team Secret Whales LCS: LYON LEC: G2 Esports LCK: Gen.G and BNK FearX The LPL will finalize its teams by March 7.#first_stand_2026 #riot_games #league_of_legends #loud #team_secret_whales

First Stand 2026 Qualifying Teams Revealed The second edition of Riot Games’ First Stand international tournament will take place from March 16 to 22 in São Paulo, Brazil. The event will feature eight teams, an increase from the five participants in the 2025 edition. The tournament structure includes a group stage modeled after the GSL format, followed by a single-elimination knockout stage. All matches will be played in best-of-five series. The winning region will receive a direct bye into the Bracket Stage of MSI 2026, bypassing the Play-In stage. The LCK and LPL will each send two representatives to the tournament, while the LEC, LCP, LCS, and CBLOL will contribute one team each. The LCK’s qualification process is already underway, with Gen.G securing their spot after defeating BNK FearX in the Upper Bracket Final. The second Korean team will be determined between Dplus KIA and BFX on February 28. For the LPL, the playoffs begin on February 24, with the grand final scheduled for March 8, just one week before the tournament starts. Unlike the LCK, the LPL’s grand final will determine seeding for First Stand rather than solely crowning the champion. The LEC, LCP, LCS, and CBLOL will each select their representatives through their respective grand finals on March 1. This means the final teams for these regions will be announced on that date. The qualified teams for First Stand include: 2nd Seed: BNK FEARX 2nd Seed: Bilibili Gaming (lowest seed possible) 1st Seed: G2 Esports 1st Seed: Team Secret Whales The tournament’s format and regional representation highlight the growing global reach of competitive gaming, with teams from diverse regions vying for a spot in the prestigious event. The structure ensures a mix of established powerhouses and emerging contenders, setting the stage for an exciting competition in Brazil.#first_stand_2026 #riot_games #sao_paulo #gsl_format #msi_2026

First Stand 2026: Everything You Need To Know After the conclusion of the first split across all major regions, the first global event of the 2026 season, First Stand 2026 (FST), is set to take place in São Paulo, Brazil, from March 16 to March 22. This year’s tournament will feature eight teams, marking an expansion from the previous edition. The event will bring together the top representatives from the LCK, LPL, LEC, LCS, LCP, and CBLOL regions for a week of competitive action. The tournament will be divided into two stages: a Group Stage and a Knockout Stage. The eight teams will be split into two groups of four, each competing in a double-elimination bracket. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Knockout Stage, where a single-elimination format will determine the final winner. The Group Stage will run from March 16 to March 20, with matches starting at 14:00 CET each day. The Knockout Stage will begin on March 21, with the finals scheduled for March 22. Riot Games will host an FST Draw Show following the LPL Finals on March 8, where the group placements will be revealed. Fans tuning in to the event will have the opportunity to earn exclusive Drops, including an Evelynn emote reserved for the finals. Additional surprises will be available throughout the tournament. Players and supporters can also contribute by purchasing the Warhound Senna skin, which will be available for purchase from March 18 to April 15. A portion of the proceeds from these sales will support Riot’s initiatives. On-site co-streaming will be a key feature of the event, with local talent invited to broadcast live across multiple stages. Qualifying professional teams will also host official team co-streams during the tournament. The full list of co-streamers will be announced on March 11.#first_stand_2026 #riot_games #sao_paulo #visual_farm_gymnasium #lpl