Valorant's New Strategy Against Hackers: Ranked Rollbacks
Valorant is taking a strong stance against the rising tide of hackers by introducing ranked rollbacks, a new measure designed to maintain fairness and integrity in competitive play. This system will reverse any progress or rank changes if a match is impacted by cheating, effectively penalizing those who seek unfair advantages.
Phillip Koskinas, Valorant's head of anti-cheat, has publicly addressed the ongoing issue of cheating within the game. He emphasized Riot Games' commitment to combating this problem, stating that the studio can now "hit so much harder" with these new measures. Koskinas shared insights into the effectiveness of Riot's Vanguard system, highlighting that a significant number of cheaters were banned in January, with a peak on January 13.
Ranked Rollbacks: How They Work
Under the new system, if a match is lost due to the presence of hackers, the affected players will have their ranks rolled back to their previous state. This not only penalizes the cheaters but also ensures that honest players are not unfairly disadvantaged. In cases where a player wins a match with a hacker on their team, the winning player will retain their rank rating, while the opposing team will have their ranks restored. Koskinas acknowledged that this approach might lead to some inflation in rankings but expressed confidence in its overall effectiveness.
The Vanguard System and Its Impact
Valorant's Vanguard system, known for its kernel-level security clearance, has been instrumental in detecting and banning cheaters. Its success has inspired other games, such as Call of Duty, to adopt similar anti-cheat technologies. Despite these efforts, the persistent nature of cheating remains a challenge, with hackers continually finding new ways to circumvent security measures.
Riot Games has already banned thousands of players in the past, demonstrating their dedication to maintaining a fair gaming environment. The introduction of ranked rollbacks is a testament to their ongoing efforts to address the latest wave of hackers. While the effectiveness of this new strategy is yet to be fully realized, it represents a significant step forward in the fight against cheating in Valorant.
