EA is set to launch another free open beta for Battlefield 6 this weekend, running from August 14 to August 17. This beta will introduce players to the new “Empire State” map, designed to enhance the experience of close-quarters combat. Gamers will also have the opportunity to explore the newly introduced Rush and Squad deathmatch modes, along with the chance to earn some enticing free rewards.
Compatibility Issues with Valorant
However, a notable complication has arisen for players eager to dive into Battlefield 6: the presence of Valorant. If you have Valorant installed on your system, you may encounter a frustrating barrier—Battlefield 6 will not launch. This issue came to light during the previous weekend’s open beta when a user, known as AnAveragePlayer, shared an unusual error message on the r/Battlefield subreddit. The message indicated a “security violation,” instructing the player to uninstall Valorant due to compatibility issues. This post quickly garnered nearly 10,000 upvotes, marking a significant moment in the ongoing clash between anti-cheat systems.
<blockquote class="reddit-card" id="1mlwcbl/battlefield6justtoldmetouninstall_valorant”>Battlefield 6 just told me to uninstall Valorant. Literally. from r/Battlefield
The root of the problem lies with Riot Games’ anti-cheat software, known as Riot Vanguard. This particular program operates at the kernel level, granting it the same privileges as the Windows operating system itself. Such access allows Vanguard to intercept potential exploits before they can be executed, providing a robust defense against cheating. However, this level of integration also means that Vanguard loads as a boot driver, activating before most other applications on your PC. This proactive approach is intended to prevent cheats from embedding themselves into the system undetected.
Modern cheating techniques often involve manipulating a game’s memory, allowing players to gain unfair advantages, such as revealing enemy positions. Kernel-level anti-cheats like Vanguard counteract these tactics by monitoring memory access at the same privilege level, effectively neutralizing exploits before they can impact gameplay. Vanguard achieves this by creating “guarded regions” within the game’s memory, accessible only to approved threads, while blocking unauthorized access.
This high level of control has earned Vanguard a reputation for being one of the most invasive anti-cheat solutions available. Its deep integration with the operating system allows it to manage low-level dispatch paths and memory management in ways that few other commercial drivers can. However, this territorial nature of kernel-level anti-cheats leads to conflicts when multiple programs attempt to operate simultaneously. When players try to run Battlefield 6 alongside Valorant, the two anti-cheat systems vie for the same low-level hooks, resulting in one blocking the other entirely.
As a result, players looking to join the Battlefield 6 open beta this weekend should consider uninstalling Valorant beforehand to avoid any compatibility issues. The ongoing battle between these anti-cheat systems highlights the complexities of maintaining a fair gaming environment in an increasingly competitive landscape.
