Riot Vanguard finally drops its controversial always-on requirement for anti-cheat — new on-demand mode requires a strict Windows 11 security stack
Riot Games has announced that it plans to let players stop its Vanguard anti-cheat from loading on startup.
The perennial tension between user privacy/autonomy and anti-cheat efficacy has reached a point where Riot is offering a compromise, likely driven by user feedback and security concerns regarding always-on kernel-level access.
This action reflects an industry-wide re-evaluation of intrusive anti-cheat measures, potentially influencing future game development and the balance between security and user experience across software platforms.
Players now have more control over when anti-cheat software runs, moving from an always-on mandatory model to an on-demand system, though with stricter security requirements for the latter.
- · PC gamers
- · Riot Games (improved public relations)
- · Microsoft (Windows 11 adoption)
- · Cheaters in games
Less intrusive anti-cheat methods could become a new standard for game developers seeking improved user satisfaction without compromising competitive integrity.
Increased adoption of stringent Windows 11 security features could inadvertently enhance overall system security for a segment of PC users.
This could set a precedent for other software requiring deep system access, prompting re-evaluations of their operational models amidst growing privacy and security concerns.
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Read at Tom's Hardware