Riot Games has updated its controversial Vanguard anti-cheat system with an on-demand mode that addresses long-standing complaints about boot performance. The change follows reports that Vanguard was soft-bricking certain hardware commonly used by cheaters. This new mode prevents Vanguard from launching automatically at startup, instead activating only when needed for games like League of Legends or Valorant.

The on-demand feature aims to reduce boot times and system resource usage on Windows PCs. However, it comes with strict security requirements. Users must pass a Vanguard Pre-Check that demands Windows 11 version 25H2 or newer, plus Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, IOMMU, VBS, and Hypervisor-Protected Code Integrity enabled. These measures ensure kernel-level cheats haven't been installed between boot and Vanguard activation.

Riot states that approximately 35% of Vanguard users already operate in a "secured-core state" and can enable on-demand mode immediately. The remaining users with disabled UEFI settings must complete the Pre-Check process first. This update represents a significant shift in balancing anti-cheat effectiveness with user experience, though the Windows 11 requirement may exclude many players still using older systems.

The move acknowledges that hardcore anti-cheat measures often create friction for legitimate users. While on-demand mode should improve daily PC usage, it also raises questions about whether Riot can maintain cheat detection effectiveness without constant kernel-level monitoring.