During the open beta for Battlefield 6, players have noticed compatibility issues between the game's anti-cheat software and that of the popular free-to-play shooter VALORANT. The conflict arises from the stringent security measures employed by both titles, leading to warnings that might initially appear as demands to uninstall one game to play the other.
The problem manifests as security violation messages from Battlefield 6's anti-cheat system, which identifies VALORANT as a conflicting program. However, according to Riot Games, the developer behind VALORANT, uninstallation is not necessary. Phillip Koskinas, Riot's head of anti-cheat, clarified that users can maintain both games on their systems provided the clients are not running at the same time. He attributed the issue to the overlapping techniques used by the two anti-cheat systems to safeguard game integrity.
Several years ago, VALORANT sparked controversy by requiring TPM 2.0 and Windows Secure Boot, which scan a user's PC for irregularities at startup to prevent advanced cheating methods. Many players expressed concerns about the risks of granting third-party software kernel-level access, citing potential system vulnerabilities from software bugs or malicious exploits.
Similarly, Battlefield 6 enforces Secure Boot and employs comparable memory protection methods. Koskinas explained that this similarity can cause Battlefield 6's anti-cheat to mistakenly view VALORANT's processes as threats. The straightforward solution is to ensure one client is fully shut down before launching the other.
One Redditor posted "Battlefield 6 just told me to uninstall VALORANT. Literally."
While kernel-level anti-cheat raises valid security worries, emerging studies suggest it elevates the barriers for cheaters. By increasing the complexity and cost of developing cheats, it disrupts the lucrative black market where basic hacks sell for as little as $10, while more sophisticated, kernel-evading tools can fetch hundreds of dollars.
Innovative cheating tactics have emerged that bypass traditional anti-cheat by avoiding direct PC interaction. For instance, some creators have engineered devices that process gameplay visuals externally and deliver physical inputs, such as muscle shocks for accurate aiming or automated mouse pad adjustments.
Upcoming titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, set for release later this year, also demand TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot, potentially introducing similar compatibility challenges with Battlefield 6 and VALORANT.
The final Battlefield 6 open beta is currently underway, running from August 14 to 17, allowing players to experience the game ahead of its full launch on October 10.
