The new function of the analysis tool Blitz makes unfair real-time information accessible in VALORANT. Now a wave of bans could follow.
The Blitz analysis tool is used by over eight million gamers. It is officially approved by some game developers – including Riot Games. But a new update may break VALORANT’s terms of service – and could put users’ accounts in jeopardy.
Officially recognised third-party software
For the games League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics, VALORANT and Apex Legends, the software Blitz offers statistics, rankings, tips, item builds and much more. For those who want to keep an eye on their statistics and those of their fellow players during the game, various in-game overlays are also available.
Hitherto, (Riot Games had no problem with it) and let players link their accounts to the third-party software. As recently as August, Blitz assured on Twitter that users of the software need not fear a ban:
We’ve noticed that Riot has updated their policy page once again and we’d like to update to our users that Blitz is still and always will be safe to use. https://t.co/ET5uc88PEb
– Blitz App (@theblitzapp) August 18, 2022
A new update, however, brought new real-time details to the game: Blitz shows players during the match which opponent they have just dealt how much damage.
Information is the highest good
Normally, this would not be an unfair advantage, as the damage numbers of the weapons are known – would this only happen with visible opponents. But the users are also shown this information if they did not have a so-called line-of-sight to their opponent – because he was covered by a smoke or behind a wall, for example.
This gives the user and his team an unfair information advantage. This is because the team knows whether someone was hit by the weapon or an ability, who and how many – and thus also where the opponents are at the moment. This information is so serious that it can decide a round.
On Reddit, some users complain about this unfair advantage:
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Ban as a possible consequence
The Vanguard anitcheat system does not recognise this as a cheat, however, because Blitz pulls this information from the game’s programming interface. And this is not explicitly forbidden, since this data is publicly available.
This means that Riot Games must either adapt the exchange of information or ban tools like Blitz. But then everyone who connected their account would risk a ban for cheating. This includes professionals like TenZ or Boaster.
