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Cheating has always been one of the biggest threats to competitive games, and Riot Games is escalating its response. Some Valorant players are now required to update their BIOS firmware in order to keep playing, a move designed to block advanced memory exploits. While the policy currently affects only a small subset of users, it has sparked wider discussion about where anti-cheat enforcement is heading.
The issue stems from certain UEFI and BIOS setups that allow a memory-related vulnerability to be exploited. According to Ars Technica, cheaters have used this loophole to manipulate game memory in ways that traditional software-level protections can’t easily detect. Riot’s solution is to require updated firmware that includes newer security fixes, effectively closing that door.
At the moment, Riot is only applying this rule to “Restricted” players. These users appear to have system configurations that closely match those used by known cheaters. Riot believes this similarity isn’t accidental and that some players intentionally build systems designed to bypass anti-cheat measures. By targeting this group, Riot hopes to stop abuse without disrupting the wider community.
Still, Riot has made it clear that this may only be the beginning. The company is openly considering mandatory BIOS updates for all players competing at the highest ranks. If that happens, the policy would extend beyond Valorant to include League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics, and Legends of Runeterra. For elite competition, Riot seems willing to prioritize security even if it introduces higher technical barriers.
This approach raises important questions about accessibility. Not all PCs can update their BIOS, especially older machines. This problem is already familiar to anyone who has struggled with Windows 11’s hardware requirements. A similar situation could emerge here, where capable players are blocked simply because their hardware doesn’t support the necessary security features.
For mobile gamers watching from the sidelines, the contrast is striking. Mobile platforms rarely deal with BIOS-level issues, which is one reason cheating is generally harder to execute at scale. Riot’s PC games offer deeper customization and performance potential, but that flexibility also comes with risk. Vanguard, Riot’s kernel-level anti-cheat system, is already one of the most aggressive solutions in the industry, and this BIOS requirement takes that philosophy even further.
Riot’s long-standing reputation has been built on making competitive games that run on modest hardware. Introducing stricter system requirements could challenge that identity, particularly in emerging markets where upgrading a PC isn’t always an option. On the other hand, Riot argues that players serious enough to reach top competitive tiers are more likely to invest in modern systems anyway.
Beyond competition, Riot’s ecosystem remains broad and player-friendly in other areas. Many fans across PC and mobile platforms manage their in-game spending through Riot Games Gift Cards, which allow controlled access to cosmetics and content across multiple titles. Even as Riot tightens its security policies, Riot Gift Cards continue to offer a convenient way for players to engage with the games without added friction.
Ultimately, this BIOS update requirement shows how high the stakes have become in competitive gaming. Riot is drawing a clear line: fair play comes first, even if enforcement becomes more demanding. Whether this approach becomes the new standard or remains limited to top-tier play, it’s a sign that the battle against cheaters is entering a new, more technical phase.
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