Did Vanguard Make You Quit? A Deep Dive into the Player Exodus from League of Legends
Have you ever been in the middle of a perfect game, everything going your way, only to see your lane opponent, who was consistently missing skillshots all game, suddenly land every single one with pixel-perfect precision? Or perhaps you've felt that nagging suspicion that the enemy jungler just "knows" where you are at all times? If so, you're not alone. Cheating has been a persistent problem in League of Legends for years, and Riot Games finally took a massive, and some would say controversial, step to address it by implementing their kernel-level anti-cheat software, Riot Vanguard.
But here's the burning question: how many people actually quit League of Legends because of Vanguard? It's a topic that has sparked intense debate and a lot of strong opinions within the community. If you're one of the players who has considered uninstalling or already has, this guide will walk you through the reasons behind the backlash, the data available, and what it all means for the future of the game.
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| How Many People Quit League Because Of Vanguard |
Step 1: Confronting the Cheating Problem (The 'Why' Behind Vanguard)
Let's start by addressing the elephant in the room. Why did Riot even do this? Riot Games stated that they were seeing a significant rise in cheating, particularly with scripting and botting. According to their developer blog, in some regions, as many as 1 in 5 games had a scripter or botter. That's a staggering number!
What is a scripter? A scripter uses third-party software to automate actions in the game, such as dodging skillshots with inhuman reflexes, perfectly timing combos, or automatically last-hitting minions. It's like playing against a robot with perfect inputs.
What is a botter? Botters use automated programs to level up accounts, often to sell them later. This creates a market for "smurf" accounts and contributes to a less competitive environment.
Riot claimed that their previous anti-cheat measures were simply not enough. The free-to-play nature of League of Legends means that banned accounts are easily replaced. Scripters would just buy a new, leveled-up account for a few dollars and be back in the game. It was a vicious cycle. So, Riot decided to bring in the big guns: Vanguard, the same anti-cheat used in their successful tactical shooter, Valorant.
Step 2: Understanding the Controversy (The Kernel-Level Conundrum)
Tip: Be mindful — one idea at a time.
This is where things get really heated. Vanguard isn't your average anti-cheat. It's a kernel-level anti-cheat.
What does "kernel-level" mean? Think of your computer's operating system (like Windows) as a city. The kernel is the city's foundation, the core that manages all the hardware and software. A kernel-level program has deep, low-level access to your computer, essentially running at the same level as your operating system itself.
So, when you install Vanguard, it starts up with your computer and runs in the background, even when you aren't playing League of Legends. This is the source of the main complaints:
Privacy Concerns: Many players are uncomfortable with a program having such deep access to their system. The fear is that it could potentially be used to spy on them or collect sensitive data, even though Riot has repeatedly denied this.
Security Risks: A program running at the kernel level is a potential vector for attack. If a malicious actor were to exploit a vulnerability in Vanguard, they could gain control of millions of computers. This is a major concern for security-conscious users.
Technical Issues: A number of players reported a variety of technical problems after Vanguard's implementation. These issues ranged from blue screens of death (BSODs) and system crashes to conflicts with other programs like virtual machines and even printers. Some players reported their computers being "bricked," or rendered unusable, although Riot has disputed these claims, attributing the issues to other factors.
I've been playing since Season 2, and the thought of an always-on program running at the kernel level just doesn't sit right with me. It felt like a line was crossed. This sentiment is shared by a significant portion of the player base.
Step 3: Analyzing the Numbers (The Data Tells a Story)
So, with all these concerns, did players actually leave? This is the tricky part, as Riot Games doesn't publicly release granular player data. However, we can look at anecdotal evidence and third-party data to get a picture of what happened.
Sub-heading: The Anecdotal Storm
QuickTip: Don’t just consume — reflect.
Immediately after Vanguard's full implementation in May 2024, Reddit, Twitter (X), and other social media platforms were flooded with posts from players claiming to have uninstalled the game.
"I've spent hundreds on skins, but my privacy is more important."
"Vanguard just broke my PC, I'm done."
"I only play ARAM with friends, I don't need a kernel-level anti-cheat for that."
While these personal stories are powerful, they represent a vocal minority. It's impossible to know how many people actually followed through on their threats to quit.
Sub-heading: The Harder (but still imperfect) Data
Reports and estimations from various sources paint a more complex picture.
Significant Player Drop: Some reports from Reddit threads and other sources suggest a massive drop of 22 million players on the day Vanguard was released, from 144 million to 122 million. This is a dramatic 15.27% decrease in a single day.
Banned Accounts: Riot has confirmed they've banned a huge number of accounts. As of a retrospective in August 2024, they had banned over 175,000 accounts for cheating, with the ranked scripting rate falling to below 1% for the first time in four years. They also cleaned up 3.5 million bot accounts that hadn't even been sold yet.
Unaffected Daily Player Count: Interestingly, a report from June 2024 stated that despite the massive number of bans, the daily player count remained unaffected according to Riot. This could mean that the banned accounts were mostly bots, smurfs, or inactive players, and not the core, active player base.
Community Estimates: Community members have made their own estimations, ranging from a small number of under 10,000 worldwide to as much as 10% of the player base.
So, what does this all mean? The numbers are difficult to interpret. The massive initial drop could be attributed to a number of factors, including the immediate banning of a huge number of bot and smurf accounts, as well as players with system conflicts. It's clear that the player base did shrink, but it's hard to say how many of those were "legitimate" players who quit out of protest or technical issues, versus cheaters and bots.
Step 4: Making Your Own Decision (To Stay or to Go?)
QuickTip: Every section builds on the last.
Ultimately, the decision to play League of Legends with Vanguard is a personal one.
If you are a competitive player and hate cheaters, you might see Vanguard as a necessary evil. The game is arguably more fair now, with fewer scripters and botters ruining the ranked experience.
If you are a casual player who is concerned about privacy and security, you might choose to uninstall. The risk, however small, may not be worth it for a game you only play occasionally.
If you are a player who has experienced technical issues, the decision may be out of your hands until you can resolve the conflict with your system.
Before you make a decision, try to troubleshoot any issues you're having. Riot has provided support for common Vanguard errors and is actively working on resolving conflicts.
Step 5: How to Uninstall Vanguard (If You Choose to Leave)
If you have decided to uninstall, here is a quick step-by-step guide:
Open your system tray: Find the Riot Vanguard icon (it looks like a V with a lock).
Right-click the icon: A menu will pop up.
Select "Exit Vanguard": This will temporarily disable Vanguard. You will need to restart your computer to play League of Legends again.
To permanently uninstall: Go to your computer's "Add or remove programs" or "Apps & features" in your settings.
Find "Riot Vanguard" in the list: Click on it and select "Uninstall."
Follow the on-screen prompts: You will be prompted to confirm the uninstallation.
Keep in mind that you will not be able to launch League of Legends without Vanguard running.
10 Related FAQs: How to...
Reminder: Short breaks can improve focus.
How to check if Vanguard is running? You can check for the Riot Vanguard icon in your system tray on the bottom right of your screen.
How to fix Vanguard errors? Riot Games has a dedicated support page with solutions for common Vanguard error codes. Check their official support website for troubleshooting steps.
How to disable Vanguard temporarily? Right-click the Vanguard icon in the system tray and select "Exit Vanguard." You'll have to restart your computer to play League of Legends again.
How to enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot for Vanguard? You need to access your computer's BIOS/UEFI settings during startup. The keys to enter BIOS vary by manufacturer (common keys include F2, F10, F12, or Del). Once in the BIOS, look for settings related to "Security" or "Boot" to enable TPM and Secure Boot.
How to know if my computer is compatible with Vanguard? You need to have Windows 10 (version 1803 or newer) or Windows 11 with Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 enabled. Check Riot's official support page for the most up-to-date system requirements.
How to report a cheater in League of Legends now? You can report a player from the end-of-game lobby or by right-clicking their name in your match history and selecting "Report."
How to get my account back if it was banned by Vanguard? If you believe you were falsely banned, you can submit a support ticket to Riot Games. They have stated that their false positive ban rate is extremely low (less than 1 in 10,000).
How to play League of Legends without Vanguard? You cannot. Vanguard is a mandatory requirement to play League of Legends on PC.
How to uninstall League of Legends? You can uninstall League of Legends through the "Add or remove programs" or "Apps & features" section in your Windows settings. This will also uninstall Vanguard.
How to know if Vanguard is slowing down my computer? While some users have reported performance issues, Riot claims Vanguard has a minimal impact on performance. You can monitor your CPU and RAM usage in Task Manager to see if Vanguard is consuming a lot of resources. If it is, consider checking for conflicts with other programs.
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