Valorant’s Vanguard Anti-Cheat: A Cautionary Tale of System Conflicts

If you’re considering diving into Valorant, particularly its new anti-cheat system known as Vanguard, you might want to hear about my recent experience. Unfortunately, it proved to be quite the challenge that had a significant impact on my computer.

The Problem Unfolds

After creating a Riot account to try out Valorant, I was greeted by the requirement to install Vanguard. I was aware of some concerns surrounding anti-cheat systems, but like many players, I thought I would give it a shot. So, I downloaded the game, and the first hurdle appeared: Vanguard required a restart to finalize the installation.

Upon restarting, I was met with an issue—Vanguard seemed to block one of the essential files associated with my RX 580 graphics card. The exact file eludes my memory, but the results were frustratingly clear. The game launched, but when I attempted to enter the tutorial, it quickly became unplayable due to Vanguard’s interference with my graphics drivers.

The Frustrating Cycle

Hoping to rectify the situation, I turned to the AMD app for a driver update, but it would not launch due to the blocked file. Next, I tried downloading the drivers directly from the AMD website. As is typical with driver installations, my computer restarted partway through, which led to the ultimate nightmare: my computer became stuck in an endless restart cycle, leading to the ominous blue screen displayed in the accompanying video.

Despite numerous attempts to reboot, I could not access the BIOS or any recovery options. It was a frustrating encounter that had me reaching out for help.

Finding a Solution

After a considerable amount of trial and error, I resorted to restoring my system to an earlier backup, and it seemed to work initially. However, the moment I attempted to update the graphics drivers, the same issue resurfaced, prompting me to take the severe step of reinstalling Windows entirely.

This experience serves as a cautionary tale for anyone looking to engage with Valorant and its Vanguard system. While it may work seamlessly for some, it can lead to significant conflicts that may require drastic measures to resolve.

Conclusion

If you’re experiencing similar issues or are wary of potential problems with game anti-cheat systems, it’s essential to proceed with caution. Always ensure you have backups of critical files and consider creating a restore point before installing any new software, especially something as