Riot Games has delivered a costly blow to Valorant cheaters. A recent update to the game's Vanguard anti-cheat system now blocks high-end cheating hardware known as Direct Memory Access (DMA) devices. Some of these devices cost up to $6,000.
How the Update Works
DMA devices bypass traditional software-based anti-cheat measures by reading and writing to a computer's memory from an external source. Cheaters use them to gain unfair advantages like wallhacks and aimbots. The new Vanguard update detects these external devices and prevents them from interacting with Valorant's memory.
The result is immediate and irreversible for many cheaters. Their expensive hardware no longer functions with the game. Riot Games confirmed the change in a blog post, stating that the update targets "the most sophisticated cheating methods."
Social Media Taunts
Riot did not stop at blocking the devices. The company took to social media to mock those who invested heavily in cheating equipment. In a tweet, the official Valorant account wrote: "Congrats to the owners of a brand new $6k paperweight."
The post drew widespread attention from both players and industry observers. Many praised Riot for taking an aggressive stance against high-end cheating tools that have plagued competitive shooters for years.
Why This Matters
This update directly affects players who rely on third-party hardware to cheat in Valorant, a free-to-play tactical shooter with millions of active users. For legitimate players, it means fairer matches and reduced frustration from encountering cheaters at high ranks.
The move also signals a shift in how game developers approach anti-cheat technology. By targeting hardware rather than just software, companies can make cheating more expensive and less accessible over time.
However, some security experts warn that determined cheaters may find workarounds or switch to different methods. Riot acknowledged this challenge but said it remains committed to staying ahead of cheat developers.
