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How Riot Games is Fighting the War Against Video Game Hackers
As the gaming industry continues to grow in popularity, so too does the threat of cheating and hacking. In an exclusive interview with TechCrunch, Riot Games’ Senior Director of Anti-Cheat Technology, Alex Koskinas, has revealed the company’s extensive efforts to combat video game hackers.
Riot Games, the developers behind League of Legends and Valorant, is taking a multi-layered approach to detect and prevent cheating. Their anti-cheat engine, Vanguard, uses kernel-level access to monitor player behavior and identify suspicious activity. This invasive approach allows Vanguard to detect even the most advanced cheats, but raises concerns about privacy and security risks.
“We’re not telling you what’s under the hood, but we’ll tell you almost anything else,” Koskinas said, emphasizing Riot’s commitment to transparency in its anti-cheat efforts.
One of the most significant threats is the use of AI-powered screen classification, which can learn to mimic human-like behavior and reproduce it. This technology has the potential to revolutionize cheating, making it even more difficult for game developers to detect.
“We’re worried about the use of AI for screen classification,” Koskinas admitted, acknowledging the risks associated with this technology. “Especially in Valorant with those bright outlines, you can almost do it with just an algorithm.”
To combat these advanced cheats, Vanguard uses a combination of machine learning and rule-based detection to identify suspicious behavior. This includes monitoring player movement, input analysis, and other techniques designed to prevent hackers from exploiting the system.
But what about more extreme forms of cheating, such as using specialized hardware like HDMI fusers or screen readers? According to Koskinas, Vanguard is well-equipped to handle these types of attacks.
“We detect the majority of cheats today, but it’s kind of iterative,” he said. “The cheater will find a way to adapt, and then we’ll adapt in turn.”
In addition to its anti-cheat engine, Riot Games is also working closely with the gaming community to prevent cheating. The company has published several blog posts detailing its efforts against cheaters and is committed to transparency in its approach.
“The best thing I feel like we can do in asking for that level of access and being around like that, is being as transparent about the opacity as we can,” Koskinas emphasized.
The war against video game hackers is an ongoing battle, with no single solution capable of completely eliminating cheating. But by combining advanced technology with community engagement and transparency, Riot Games is determined to keep gamers safe and fair.
“It’s a constant cat-and-mouse game between us and the cheaters,” Koskinas acknowledged. “We’re going to be very transparent about it and make sure we don’t give up.”
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/03/how-riot-games-is-fighting-the-war-against-video-game-hackers/
