Riot Games, the developer behind popular titles such as Valorant and League of Legends, has announced a new anti-cheat requirement that could pose challenges for players with older PCs. The studio has revealed that it will soon be imposing a BIOS update requirement on certain players, following the discovery of a UEFI bug that could allow skilled cheaters to bypass certain memory protections.

The new requirement is part of Riot's ongoing efforts to combat cheating in its games, particularly in competitive online multiplayer titles. According to a statement from the studio, the UEFI bug was discovered during a routine security audit, and it has the potential to allow cheaters to exploit certain memory protections that are designed to prevent cheating.

"We take cheating very seriously, and we're constantly working to stay ahead of those who would seek to exploit our systems," said a spokesperson for Riot Games. "This new requirement is a necessary step in ensuring the integrity of our games and the experience for our players."

The BIOS update requirement is not expected to affect all players, but rather those who are running older hardware that may not be compatible with the latest security features. According to Riot, players will be notified if their system meets the new requirements, and they will be given the option to update their BIOS or seek assistance from the studio's support team.

The move is the latest in a series of anti-cheat measures implemented by Riot Games in recent years. The studio has a reputation for being proactive in addressing cheating in its games, and its Vanguard anti-cheat software is widely regarded as one of the most effective in the industry.

The new requirement is also part of a broader trend in the gaming industry, where anti-cheat software is becoming increasingly sophisticated and demanding. Many modern games require players to have the latest security features enabled on their systems, including Secure Boot, a TPM 2.0 module, and virtualization-based memory integrity protection.

The impact of the new requirement on players with older PCs is likely to be significant, particularly those who may not have the resources to upgrade their hardware. However, Riot has emphasized that the requirement is necessary to ensure the integrity of its games and the experience for its players.

As the gaming industry continues to evolve, it is clear that anti-cheat measures will play an increasingly important role in maintaining the integrity of online multiplayer games. With the new BIOS update requirement, Riot Games is taking a proactive approach to addressing cheating in its games, and it remains to be seen how players will respond to the change.