League of Legends players eager to experience the enhanced security promised by the Vanguard anti-cheat system will need to exercise patience a little while longer. Riot Games, the developer behind the immensely popular online multiplayer game, has announced a delay in the integration of Vanguard due to the discovery of critical bugs.

Originally slated for release in the upcoming update, the implementation of Vanguard has been pushed back by one patch cycle. This decision comes as Riot Games identified significant issues with the client pop-up, necessitating further development and testing before the anti-cheat system can be rolled out seamlessly.

According to Riot's latest update, Patch 14.3 will include a diagnostics check to assess compatibility with players' systems for the installation of Vanguard. The revised schedule indicates that Vanguard will be deployed across all servers with Patch 14.5, set to launch on Wednesday, March 6th.

Vanguard, Riot's proprietary anti-cheat software, gained prominence with its initial integration into VALORANT, Riot's first-person shooter game. Designed to operate in the background while players engage in gameplay, Vanguard employs a kernel mode driver for enhanced security measures.

Players are advised to ensure their systems meet the requirements for Vanguard compatibility. In cases where the initial diagnostic check fails, Riot assures players that the system will re-evaluate compatibility at a later time. However, it's important to note that Vanguard will become a mandatory component for League of Legends gameplay, excluding Mac users, in the near future.

For those contemplating the removal of Vanguard post-integration, Riot emphasizes the need to uninstall the software separately from individual games. However, this action will result in the inability to access Riot's major titles starting from March onwards. Reinstalling Vanguard will be necessary for players wishing to resume gameplay, ensuring compliance with the updated security protocols.

Also read: Team Liquid's Offlaner Snubs Opponents at BetBoom Dacha 2024

Despite the delay in Vanguard integration, Patch 14.3 brings forth numerous changes to League of Legends, including adjustments to various champions and items. Players can anticipate an array of gameplay enhancements and tweaks designed to enrich their gaming experience.