Riot Implements Series-First Hardware Bans to Combat Cheating in LoL

Riot Games, the developer of League of Legends, recently implemented a new measure to crack down on cheaters by implementing hardware bans, a first for the popular MOBA game.

The announcement followed the implementation of Vanguard in the MOBA, resulting in a significant rise in the amount of bans among the game’s top ranks.

Now that Vanguard has been in effect for some time, the dev team has begun targeting additional cheats that were previously unable to be addressed. These new measures include the implementation of Hardware ID bans, which will further increase the consequences for cheaters within League.

Philip Koskinas, the Head of anti-cheat at Riot Games, shared statistics on the issue and disclosed that hardware bans were the second most common type of bans being enforced.

ban printer’s warming up pic.twitter.com/IeFA4rUKKh

— Phillip Koskinas (@deteccphilippe) May 20, 2024

The implementation of hardware ID bans ensures that individuals found guilty of misconduct will be unable to continue playing on the same computer, effectively deterring cheaters from accessing the game unless they invest in new hardware – a significant expense that is likely to discourage many.

The data indicates that the hardware bans started on approximately May 15 and primarily targeted cheaters in higher elos, particularly Masters and above. This occurred just one month after Vanguard’s integration into League of Legends, demonstrating that Riot is committed to tackling cheating in a serious manner.

Despite this, Vanguard has faced some issues. Some players who had previously played Riot’s tactical FPS Valorant reported that the anti-cheat software was causing their PCs to malfunction. However, the developers have clarified that they have not found any evidence of Vanguard causing such problems.

Riot’s hardware bans are a significant tactic in their ongoing battle against cheaters in League of Legends, showcasing their continuous dedication to eradicating cheating in their games.