Riot Games’ Vanguard system coming to League of Legends
Riot Games’ Vanguard, an anti-cheat software initially developed for VALORANT, underwent refinement before its anticipated release in League of Legends. Initially slated for an early 2024 debut, Riot’s plans shifted several times. Despite an announcement confirming Vanguard’s arrival in League on March 6, the timeline was altered again, leading to speculation among fans about its eventual release.
When Patch 14.5 was released on March 6, many players anticipated Vanguard’s inclusion on a global scale. However, Riot opted for a last-minute pivot, favoring a gradual, region-based rollout strategy instead. The Philippines became the first region to receive Vanguard, marking a departure from the initial plan of a global release.
As of now, an official release date for Vanguard in League remains uncertain. Speculation suggests it may be introduced with Patch 14.6, but historical delays indicate it could take longer for Riot developers to deliver the software.
While Vanguard’s implementation in League is crucial for maintaining fair gameplay, it hasn’t been without controversy. Past iterations of the software were prone to false positives, detecting innocuous programs like MSI Afterburner as cheat software, leading to confusion among players.
For most players, Vanguard’s integration into League should be seamless, with minimal impact on performance. Unless using an outdated gaming PC, players may not even notice Vanguard running in the background. Occasional errors like “Vanguard not initialized” may occur but are usually swiftly addressed through frequent hotfixes rolled out by Riot.
While the delay in Vanguard’s release may disappoint some, there’s no shortage of content to enjoy in the meantime.