Riot Games has taken proactive measures to address and dispel recent rumors regarding its Vanguard anti-cheat system, which were sparked by a seemingly lighthearted post on social media. The developer of popular titles such as League of Legends and Valorant found itself at the center of speculation after sharing an image that humorously referred to certain hardware as a “k paperweight.” This post was interpreted by some as an indication that the company had the capability to permanently disable players’ PCs if they were caught cheating.
Clarifying Misconceptions
In a swift response to the growing concerns, Riot Games clarified that it neither has the intention nor the ability to damage players’ PCs. The company emphasized that the “paperweights” mentioned in their post were specifically devices designed for cheating, not standard gaming hardware. Riot stated unequivocally, “Vanguard does not damage hardware or disable your devices.”
The company elaborated that the image shared was of cheat hardware that had been rendered ineffective for use in Valorant due to updates in the Vanguard system. Riot explained that these updates enforce standard platform security features, such as the Input-Output Memory Management Unit (IOMMU), on accounts identified as utilizing Direct Memory Access (DMA) cheating devices. This security measure prevents these devices from accessing memory in applications, including their games.
Riot further noted that while cheaters may experience hardware faults or instability when attempting to use these cheats, this is a natural consequence of their actions. However, if the IOMMU is disabled, the cheating devices should function normally. The company reassured players that only those using DMA-based cheats would encounter any issues, and reiterated that their PCs would not be “bricked” as a result of Vanguard’s operations.
In a follow-up communication, Riot Games reiterated its commitment to maintaining competitive integrity within its gaming community. The company expressed its dedication to transparency regarding its anti-cheat systems and assured players that it would continue to invest in measures to protect the integrity of its games.
Riot’s efforts to clarify the situation come on the heels of a similar controversy that arose in 2024, when players voiced concerns about the potential for Vanguard to disable their PCs. At that time, the company had also stepped in to clarify that it could not confirm any instances of such bricking occurring.
congrats to the owners of a brand new k paperweight https://t.co/3rjZVQntrc pic.twitter.com/fS3JC0FL0p— Riot Games (@riotgames) May 21, 2026
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
