For over a decade, I've enjoyed the offerings from Riot Games without feeling compelled to write a review. However, recent changes have prompted me to share my concerns, especially regarding the new Vanguard anti-cheat system, which I believe shifts the game away from its "free-to-play" model.
Historically, Riot's games have been accessible without financial barriers, but the latest update has introduced mandatory hardware requirements that could incur costs for new and existing players. For instance, I've been running Windows 11 on my newly built computer without a TPM 2.0 chip and had no issues playing League of Legends until now. The new Vanguard system mandates this hardware, forcing players like myself to purchase additional components. This requirement contradicts the essence of a free-to-play game, as it now requires a monetary investment to meet these new standards.
Moreover, the Vanguard system must remain active in the background at all times to play Riot's games. If for any reason it is shut down, the entire computer must be restarted to re-enable it. This persistent operation could raise privacy concerns, as it has the capability to monitor all running programs, potentially exposing users to increased security risks and data breaches.
I reached out to Riot's technical support for a resolution that wouldn't involve further expenses but was met with disappointing advice: downgrade to Windows 10, which would not only cost me another product key but also degrade my system's capabilities.
During this interaction, I was also provided with misleading information regarding the TPM and its integration with Vanguard:
- TPM Requirement Misrepresentation: It was suggested that the TPM is primarily used for "cert signing validation," which is a misleading simplification. While TPM does enhance system security, its main function is not directly related to certificate signing but rather to ensure secure system booting and to check that the software hasn't been tampered with.
- Hardware ID Overstatements: Riot implied that having TPM would automatically imply a user's non-intent to cheat, which is an inaccurate portrayal of what TPM technology achieves. Anti-cheat systems utilize various detection methods, and TPM alone does not prevent cheating.
- Exaggerated Consequences of Cheating: The notion that a TPM chip could be "banished from this realm forever" if cheating is detected is not only technically infeasible but also falsely dramatizes the capability of Riot's system.
In conclusion, while Riot Games continues to innovate in the gaming industry, the implementation of such invasive and costly requirements under the guise of enhancing security may alienate a portion of their player base. The transition to requiring hardware that incurs additional costs undermines the very principle of free-to-play gaming and raises concerns about the future direction of Riot's accessibility and transparency.