Riot Games recently released a patch for their popular MOBA game, League of Legends, aimed at tackling scripters, botters, and cheaters. However, players who updated the game reported encountering problems, with some claiming that their PCs were rendered unusable due to the introduction of the new anti-cheat software. Riot Games has responded to these concerns, asserting that everything functions as intended.

On April 30, Riot Games announced the release of patch 14.9 for League of Legends, scheduled for May 1. This update introduced Vanguard, Riot Games’ proprietary anti-cheat software, alongside the customary balance changes and bug fixes. Vanguard has already been implemented in Riot Games’ tactical hero shooter, Valorant, and is intended to address League of Legends’ exploits, creating a fairer gameplay environment. However, after the update, players took to social media platforms like Reddit and Twitter to voice their complaints.

League of Legends players reported encountering issues immediately after updating the game to the new version with Vanguard. Many claimed that their PCs became unresponsive, either getting stuck in infinite boot loops or allegedly requiring the deletion of drivers. It appears that the problem may stem from a compatibility issue with Windows 11, although Riot Games, committed to resolving these issues, denied any connection between Vanguard and the PC malfunctions. In a detailed post on the game’s subreddit, a Riot Games community manager urged players experiencing issues to contact Player Support for assistance. The company stated that it had resolved several major threads related to PC malfunctions and confirmed that Vanguard was not responsible for those problems.

Riot Games emphasised that less than 0.03% of players had reported issues with Vanguard. While they maintained that the anti-cheat software was not the cause of any identified problems, they offered troubleshooting tips for players who encountered difficulties following the update.

League of Legends streamer and professional player Nick “LS” De Cesare resolved issues with one of his PCs by taking additional measures, such as removing the battery. However, at the time of writing, another PC with League of Legends installed remained inoperable.

The recent introduction of Riot Games’ anti-cheat software, Vanguard, in League of Legends, has caused a wave of concern among players due to reported PC malfunctions. While Riot Games maintains that Vanguard is not responsible for these issues, it is crucial for the company, which is dedicated to maintaining a positive gaming environment, to address and investigate the concerns raised by players. The compatibility problem with Windows 11 should be thoroughly examined to ensure a smooth gaming experience for all users.

Additionally, the suspension and fine imposed on the professional player for inappropriate behaviour raises questions about the standards and expectations within the League of Legends community. Both players and organizations must uphold professionalism and respect to maintain a positive gaming environment.