Riot Games Valorant project developers Joe Ziegler and Anna Donlon confirm the team is looking to implement hardware bans on accounts found cheating. Valorant‘s closed beta is well underway, and the developers are engaging in open communication with the community. At the start of the beta, content creator Benjamin “DrLupo” Lupo interviewed the two devs to ask important community questions.
Unfortunately, hackers are prominent in the first-person-shooter genre. Fans of Call of Duty: Warzone have reported rampant hackers in the game. Similarly, recently Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has seen an alarming lack of VAC bans, resulting in blatant cheaters throughout matchmaking. The developers are hoping to set a different precedent with Valorant cheaters.
Riot Games’ tough stance on cheaters
In DrLupo’s interview, Ziegler stated the developers are taking hacking and toxicity seriously. Valorant developers have implemented their own “Vanguard Anti-Cheat.” The system, “Fog of War,” approaches uniquely safeguarding against cheaters. However, while Riot’s VAC works hard, hackers work hard too. Therefore, Riot Games is prepping for the inevitable influx of cheaters. When asked how Riot’s security team will punish cheaters, Ziegler says they plan to implement hardware bans on all convicted accounts.
Hardware bans are one of the most effective ways of making sure hackers aren’t able to easily come back into the game. The user is unable to access Valorant servers on the same computer afterward. Unlike IP bans, which are relatively easier to evade, a player would need to obtain entirely new hardware to play the game again. Whether or not the hardware bans are permanent or temporary is unclear. Neither of the developers discussed whether each case would be judged on a case-by-case basis or punished equally across the board.
The community’s reaction
Immediately, DrLupo raised his thumbs in delight, and his chat expressed their approval of the news. While the free-to-play format makes Valorant highly accessible, it also makes the game susceptible to hackers creating multiple accounts. Valorant‘s strict rules show the team is taking proactive measures to uphold competitive integrity and facilitate a healthy community.
