Watch out if you’re planning to play Counter-Strike 2 anytime soon and you own an AMD graphics card – AMD’s Anti-Lag+ feature is causing Valve to ban players in the newly released free-to-play shooter. The issue arose after players had reported receiving VAC (Valve Anti-Cheat) bans following the installation of AMD’s latest driver update, version 23.10.1. This update was supposed to fix stuttering and crash issues within CS2 and also added support for popular games like Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Forza Motorsport, and The Lords of the Fallen. However, it inadvertently introduced a problem for CS2 players using AMD graphics cards.
The crux of the issue lies in the AMD Anti-Lag+ feature. Designed to reduce input lag, Anti-Lag+ works by aligning the frames within the game’s code, allowing for better frame synchronization, reduced latency, and ultimately a smoother gaming experience. While this feature sounds beneficial, the way it integrates itself into the game code appears to be triggering the VAC system. Specifically, the Anti-Lag+ feature alters the engine.dll functions, which VAC identifies as unauthorized tampering, leading to an immediate ban for the player.
Reacting to concerns raised on platforms like Reddit, the official CS2 Twitter account confirmed the problem and issued a warning to AMD users. The statement urged players not to enable Anti-Lag+ while playing CS2, making it clear that any alterations to the game’s code would result in a VAC ban. Players can expect to be unbanned once AMD releases a corrective update. On their part, Valve has made it clear that they will not modify the VAC system to accommodate the Anti-Lag+ feature; instead, they await a patch from AMD.
AMD's latest driver has made their "Anti-Lag/+" feature available for CS2, which is implemented by detouring engine dll functions.
If you are an AMD customer and play CS2, DO NOT ENABLE ANTI-LAG/+; any tampering with CS code will result in a VAC ban.
Once AMD ships an update we…
— CS2 (@CounterStrike) October 13, 2023
It’s essential to note that the Anti-Lag+ feature is exclusive to the newer RX 7000 series graphics cards. AMD has yet to provide an official statement or timeline for a potential fix, but given the gravity of the situation, it’s expected that they will prioritize a solution. Interestingly, the CS2 game supports Nvidia’s Reflex technology, which has not been associated with similar issues. Unlike Anti-Lag+ that operates on a driver level, Nvidia Reflex is integrated directly into the game.
However, it’s not all bleak for AMD users. Players who received bans due to the Anti-Lag+ feature can chance a reversal by filing a complaint or while they wait for AMD to resolve the drive issue, which should be very soon.
Interestingly enough, Anti-Lag+ isn’t universally problematic. This feature has been successfully implemented in other games, including prominent titles like Apex Legends, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Fortnite, and more. The unique challenge with CS2 and its VAC system serves as a reminder of the complexities associated with developing and integrating new technologies across diverse platforms.
Furthermore, CS2 employs AMD’s HYPR-RX feature, which can enable Anti-Lag+ automatically. This potentially implies that some players might face bans without even knowingly activating the feature via HYPR-RX. This underscores the importance of being cautious with new features, especially in competitive gaming settings where anti-cheat software is always on the prowl for abnormalities.
For players utilizing AMD’s graphics cards and playing Counter-Strike 2, the immediate advice is clear: avoid the 23.10.1 driver or revert to an older version. Ensure that both Anti-Lag and Anti-Lag+ features are disabled, both universally and specifically for CS2. Also, it’s recommended to steer clear of the HYPR-RX feature within the game.
This incident highlights the challenges hardware and software developers face in a rapidly evolving gaming ecosystem. While advancements like Anti-Lag+ promise enhanced gaming experiences, the marriage of complex systems can lead to unintended consequences. Both AMD and Valve are undoubtedly working on rectifying this situation, but until then, the best course of action for players is caution and patience.
In the meantime, the downward spiral of Counter-Strike 2’s reviews on Steam continues. At the moment, it’s now on track to becoming one of the-worst reviewed games on Steam, joining the likes of Overwatch 2 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 soon if this doesn’t stop. Instances like these definitely don’t help at all, especially after Valve confirmed that it has zero plans to add Mac support for Counter-Strike 2.
