Is Vanguard Bricking LoL Players‘ PCs

The gaming community has recently been stirred by reports concerning Riot Games‘ anti-cheat software, Vanguard. Introduced to enhance fairness in its popular title, League of Legends, the software aims to clamp down on cheating. However, its launch has been met with a flurry of complaints from gamers facing technical difficulties post-installation, with some even claiming the software is compromising their computer systems.

As Vanguard extends its reach from VALORANT to League of Legends, a wave of concern sweeps across the player base. The internet is abuzz with user accounts associating the program with severe PC malfunctions. These incidents raise critical questions about the safety and reliability of using such robust anti-cheat measures, prompting a closer look at whether these claims hold merit or are mere coincidences amplified by communal echo.

Is Vanguard crashing computers?

Reports of computers becoming non-operational have surfaced recently, coinciding with the integration of Riot Games‘ Vanguard anti-cheat system. Notably, Nick „LS“ DeCesare, a recognized figure in the gaming community, experienced his own systems failing post-Vanguard installation. Resolving the issue required a reset of the CMOS battery, suggesting a significant interference with system operations.

Technical Requirements for Resolution:

• The enabling of both EUFI and TPM2.0 was necessary for system recovery and access to the League of Legends game.

Vanguard's operation at kernel-level, which is the utmost level of system privilege, has been the centerpiece of security concerns. The implications of such access are extensive, encompassing complete control over both hardware and software.

Cybersecurity Specialist’s Concerns:

• Jason „Thor“ Hall, an experienced developer and hacker, expresses discomfort with the degree of access kernel-level anti-cheat systems can obtain.

While Riot Games aims to safeguard the competitive integrity of its titles with this approach, the potential side effects raise caution within the cybersecurity sphere.

Community Impact:

• User reports on social media echo similar technical disturbances.
• The lack of definitive evidence linking Vanguard to the crashes does not eliminate suspicion due to its invasive nature.

The sentiment in the player community is likely to be influenced by the ongoing technical problems and ongoing investigations. As of now, clear evidence directly blaming Vanguard remains absent, though its deep system access suggests a possibility that cannot be immediately discounted.

Impact on Replay Accessibility

The introduction of Vanguard, Riot Games‘ anti-cheat system, to League of Legends is causing more than just technical disruptions. Coaches and analysts are experiencing difficulties with retrieving replay files, rendering them inaccessible for strategic review. Replay analysis is a critical coach tool, and current patch replays are reportedly unusable according to insights from content creators. This considerable hurdle impedes the ability for in-depth gameplay analysis.