HardwareFreaks

Tag: Valorant

  • Counter-Strike 2 might be the biggest game on Steam, but Global Offensive is breaking player count records since it went standalone again

    Featured image CounterStrike 2 might be the biggest game on Steam but Global Offensive is breaking player count records since it went standalone again

    When discussing the titans of PC gaming, one name often dominates the conversation: Counter-Strike. It has cemented its place as a true behemoth on the Steam platform, boasting well over a million concurrent players and demonstrating remarkable staying power in the fiercely competitive world of tactical shooters.

    But the story doesn’t end with the current iteration. A fascinating, understated narrative is unfolding in the history of Valve’s lineup: the legacy of its predecessor, Global Offensive (GO).

    While Counter-Strike 2 remains the undisputed king of contemporary Steam charts, the older version continues to prove that competitive gaming communities thrive long after a major update. Recently, GO experienced a significant surge, hitting an all-time concurrent player peak just three days ago, demonstrating an impressive upward trend for a game that doesn’t receive the same immediate spotlight as its successor.

    This growth is noteworthy because it represents a renewed interest in classic tactical gameplay. The spike attracted over 68,000 simultaneous players, marking a noticeable moment of resurgence for a title that once faced competition from modern blockbusters.

    The performance metrics offer more than just a brief statistical blip; they reflect a broader shift in the gaming landscape. As the 28th most played game on Steam right now, GO sits comfortably alongside major titles like Baldur’s Gate 3 and Rainbow Six Siege, underscoring its deep, enduring appeal within the PC community.

    This resurgence hints at something larger: that the environment for tactical first-person shooters is far more diverse than anyone initially assumed. The existence of thriving playerbases for both the original Counter-Strike and Source titles speaks volumes about the variety available in the FPS genre.

    The continued health of these older games, alongside newer titles like Valorant, paints a vivid picture of an ecosystem rich with tactical gameplay. It suggests that the strategic depth and competitive spirit embedded in those foundational titles continue to attract and hold a dedicated community across generations of gamers.

    Ultimately, the story of Counter-Strike is not just about one game; it’s about a thriving digital arena where history meets the future, proving that some classics are built to last and continue evolving long after their initial release.

    Credit: PC Gamer

  • You can finally turn Riot’s Vanguard anti-cheat off when you’re not playing a game

    For years, PC gamers have lived with a controversial piece of software called Vanguard, Riot Games’ anti-cheat system. It operates at a deeply privileged level—kernel mode—granting it access to your computer at an alarmingly deep level. This intrusive nature, while intended for security and competitive integrity, often sparked debates about privacy and user experience.

    Now, that landscape is shifting. Riot Games is rolling out a significant update to Vanguard, moving away from its traditional, omnipresent model toward a more flexible, “on-demand” system. This change aims to dramatically improve the user experience for League of Legends and Valorant players by giving them control over when the anti-cheat software activates.

    The core change is simple yet profound: Vanguard will no longer launch automatically when your PC boots up. Instead, it will only activate when you are actively playing a game and shut down once that session is complete. This shift fundamentally changes how this powerful piece of security interacts with the rest of your operating system.

    This development is facilitated by advancements in system-level security. To enable this flexible mode, Vanguard must operate on sufficiently secured devices, relying on modern pre-boot security mechanisms built into systems like Windows 11 and specialized hardware components.

    For the vast majority of players, this transition is purely about convenience rather than capability. Riot’s anti-cheat chief explained that roughly 35% of their player base already satisfy the necessary conditions for this new “Pre-Check” feature, meaning the option to run in on-demand mode will appear automatically after the update.

    However, those who haven’t yet benefited are provided with a clear roadmap. To access the on-demand functionality, users generally need to ensure their systems meet modern security standards, including running Windows 11 25H2 or later, along with enabling critical features such as UEFI Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, VBS, HVCI, and IOMMU.

    For those remaining on older hardware, the update ensures that Vanguard continues to function exactly as it does now, without forcing any immediate changes. Riot’s approach is one of patience, believing that by waiting for the broader PC ecosystem to mature, they can achieve a smoother experience without demanding immediate upgrades.

    This evolution reflects a broader trend in the technology world: security measures are becoming more integrated and collaborative. As developers and hardware manufacturers work together—like Microsoft and PC equipment makers—to build these necessary cryptographic verification features natively into the Windows kernel, it becomes possible to create systems that are both secure and user-friendly.

    Ultimately, this move prioritizes user choice. By focusing on incentives rather than strict requirements, Riot is creating a system where powerful anti-cheat technology can operate effectively while respecting the boundaries of modern computing security. It’s an update that promises less friction and more control for the dedicated community.

    Credit: PC Gamer