October 5, 2026, 2:28 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Used PC components are often a way for gamers to save money when upgrading. However, a gamer from Germany had an unexpected experience after purchasing a processor. After installing the CPU in his computer, Riot Games banned him from “Valorant.” According to him, he had not violated any rules.
The player explained on Reddit that he had purchased a used AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D through classifieds. Initially, the computer worked as expected after installation. Shortly thereafter, however, he was kicked out of “Valorant” and received a ban, even though he hadn’t played a single match with the new hardware.
Used CPU reportedly already banned
Subsequently, the gamer contacted Riot Games support. According to him, it turned out that his own behavior wasn’t the issue. Instead, the used CPU he bought was reportedly already on a ban list.
Apparently, the processor previously belonged to another player who had been permanently banned from Riot’s games for cheating. The anti-cheat system recognized the hardware as suspicious and blocked access for the new owner as well.
The ban came as a surprise to him. After all, he had purchased the AMD processor secondhand legally and, according to him, had not broken any rules.
How Vanguard detects suspicious hardware
In “Valorant,” Riot Games uses the anti-cheat software “Vanguard.” It operates deep at the kernel level of Windows and can capture identifiers of the installed hardware. This is intended to identify known cheaters even if they simply create a new user account.
Similar technical measures are also used in other major online games. However, such systems have been controversially discussed for years. Critics complain about their extensive access, while supporters see them as an important tool in the fight against cheaters.
A ban by Vanguard can also affect other Riot Games titles. Banned users may, for example, lose access to “League of Legends” or “Teamfight Tactics.”
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Ban reportedly affected other PC components
According to the Reddit post, the issue didn’t stop with the used CPU. After Vanguard detected the banned processor, the system reportedly linked the ban to the other components of the computer. Thus, a single compromised part can have consequences for the entire PC.
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This creates a problem, especially when buying used hardware. Buyers can unknowingly purchase a component already associated with such a ban. According to the report, this is usually difficult to determine before purchase.
Riot Games refuses to lift ban
The affected gamer reportedly did not receive a subsequent unban. Riot Games allegedly denied his request. If the company were to lift such bans, actually banned players could also try to circumvent a hardware ban this way.
The decision has far-reaching consequences for the new owner of the CPU. Simply replacing the processor would not be enough, according to the report. To access Riot Games’ titles without restrictions again, he would need to assemble an entirely new PC. Otherwise, previously used components could immediately trigger another ban.
We have asked Riot Games for a statement. A response was not available at the time of publication.