Decoding Riot Games' anti-boosting campaign: 296,416 accounts penalized and the gaps left unfilled

In August 2026, Riot Games announced that 296,416 accounts were penalized for rank manipulation across VALORANT and League of Legends since late 2026. The figure is cumulative, covering both titles with no regional or per-game breakdown, making trend analysis impossible. Riot's Anti-Boost system defines violations based on intent rather than banning alternative accounts outright. The penalty ladder includes point rollback, temporary suspension, escalating bans for repeat offenders, and permanent bans for account trading and intentional deranking. The system extends liability to boosters' main accounts and frequently paired teammates, raising false-positive concerns. The data is self-reported with no independent audit. While the campaign signals Riot's commitment to competitive integrity, its effectiveness cannot be assessed without structured, time-series data. For Vietnamese players, the announcement raises questions about regional enforcement priorities and available appeal mechanisms.