19:34Machine-translated from Azerbaijani by AIRead in Azerbaijani
Gamer Who Bought Used AMD Processor Gets Previous Owner’s Valorant Ban
A German gamer bought a used “AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D” processor on September 21, 2026. However, as soon as the gamer launched “Valorant,” they were kicked out of the game. Although the computer was working normally, the “Vanguard” system identified the processor as blacklisted. An investigation revealed that the processor had been blocked on August 12 because the previous owner had cheated. As a result, the ban also affected the new owner’s account.
“Riot Games” support said it could not lift the ban because it was tied to the processor’s unique hardware code. According to Phillip Koskinas, the company’s anti-cheat systems specialist, “Vanguard” hardware bans remain in effect for no more than 4 months. The restriction applies only to “Valorant,” and support tells the user when the ban will expire. Koskinas also denied the claim that all the components in the gamer’s computer had been blacklisted. When the system detects 1 listed component, it does not automatically block the other components. However, the rules may be stricter with other protection systems. “Easy Anti-Cheat” may ban a person using that hardware from all games in which the system operates. With “BattlEye,” the ban may be permanent and apply to all games.
For “Vanguard” to work, “Secure Boot” and TPM 2.0 must be enabled on the computer. These features verify that the system boots securely. “Ricochet,” which operates in “Call of Duty” games, also connects to “Microsoft” servers to check whether the system has been tampered with. Such programs are criticized for being overly intrusive and using a large amount of resources. At the same time, they are considered essential for preventing cheating in online games. The user will be able to access “Valorant” again with the same processor after the 4-month ban ends. The other option is to buy a new processor and create a new account. The incident highlights a risk that is difficult for buyers of used processors and graphics cards to check in advance. If the seller conceals or denies the ban, the buyer often learns about it only after being kicked out of the game.
“Riot Games” support said it could not lift the ban because it was tied to the processor’s unique hardware code. According to Phillip Koskinas, the company’s anti-cheat systems specialist, “Vanguard” hardware bans remain in effect for no more than 4 months. The restriction applies only to “Valorant,” and support tells the user when the ban will expire. Koskinas also denied the claim that all the components in the gamer’s computer had been blacklisted. When the system detects 1 listed component, it does not automatically block the other components. However, the rules may be stricter with other protection systems. “Easy Anti-Cheat” may ban a person using that hardware from all games in which the system operates. With “BattlEye,” the ban may be permanent and apply to all games. For “Vanguard” to work, “Secure Boot” and TPM 2.0 must be enabled on the computer. These features verify that the system boots securely. “Ricochet,” which operates in “Call of Duty” games, also connects to “Microsoft” servers to check whether the system has been tampered with. Such programs are criticized for being overly intrusive and using a large amount of resources. At the same time, they are considered essential for preventing cheating in online games. The user will be able to access “Valorant” again with the same processor after the 4-month ban ends. The other option is to buy a new processor and create a new account. The incident highlights a risk that is difficult for buyers of used processors and graphics cards to check in advance. If the seller conceals or denies the ban, the buyer often learns about it only after being kicked out of the game.