Javelin and Vanguard Can't Run Together
Battlefield 6's beta hit a snag that caught many PC players off guard. EA's new Javelin anti-cheat system refuses to run alongside Riot's Vanguard, the kernel level security software that protects Valorant. Players trying to launch Battlefield 6 while Valorant is running get hit with a "general software incompatibility" error that stops the game cold.
Both programs can coexist on the same PC without issues. The conflict only happens when players try to run both games simultaneously.
Phillip Koskinas, Riot's head of anti-cheat, explained the technical breakdown on social media. "Both drivers race to protect regions of game memory with the same technique," he said. Two security systems fighting over the same kernel level access creates a digital traffic jam that neither can resolve.
Beta Numbers Show Strong Performance Despite Hiccups
Battlefield 6's beta weekends ran from August 9 to 10 and August 14 to 17, with early access starting August 7 to 8. The sessions pulled in massive numbers. Over 500,000 concurrent players jumped into the action on Steam alone, making it the biggest Battlefield beta in franchise history.
Javelin proved its worth during those sessions. The anti-cheat system blocked over 300,000 cheating attempts across the beta period, showing EA's aggressive approach to security is paying off in raw numbers.
But the Valorant conflict left some players frustrated. The fix is simple but annoying. Players must completely close Valorant before starting Battlefield 6. No minimizing or background running allowed.
Kernel Level Wars Hit Gaming
This clash highlights a bigger trend in gaming security. Major developers are all moving toward kernel level anti-cheat systems that demand deep access to PC hardware. Call of Duty runs Ricochet, PUBG uses BattlEye, Fortnite relies on Easy Anti-Cheat. Each one wants exclusive control over system memory protection.
Battlefield 6 is the first game in the series to launch with EA's proprietary Javelin system. The software requires Secure Boot to be enabled in BIOS settings, which has already created headaches for casual PC players who don't want to dig into system configuration.
Some players reported even more extreme conflicts. Previous DICE games like Battlefield 1 have prevented the beta from launching entirely in certain cases, with system reformatting needed to clear the conflicts.
Security Theater or Necessary Protection
Javelin's effectiveness numbers look impressive on paper, but cheaters still found ways into beta matches. Players reported encountering wallhacks and aimbots within hours of the beta going live, proving that no anti-cheat system offers bulletproof protection.
The balance between security and convenience keeps getting steeper. Modern anti-cheat systems demand administrator level access, Secure Boot configuration, and now apparently can't coexist with competing security software. Players are essentially running multiple digital bouncers that can't agree on who's in charge.
Privacy advocates have raised concerns about giving game companies such deep system access. When these programs conflict with each other to the point of preventing legitimate software from running, serious questions arise about whether the cure is becoming worse than the disease.
Community Split on Solutions
Reddit discussions about the conflict show a divided community. Some players joke that EA is doing them a favor by forcing them to choose between games. Others express genuine frustration at having to micromanage their gaming library to avoid software conflicts.
The technical requirements are pushing some players toward console versions. Secure Boot configuration, BIOS modifications, and now inter-game compatibility issues create barriers that casual PC gamers don't want to deal with.
Riot's response has been notably professional. Koskinas confirmed that Vanguard and Javelin are compatible when not running simultaneously, and didn't throw blame around for the conflict.
Looking Ahead
EA hasn't provided specifics about fixing the Valorant conflict before Battlefield 6's October 10 launch. Resolving the issue will likely require coordination between EA and Riot to ensure their security systems can share kernel level access without stepping on each other.
The broader gaming industry faces a choice. Either develop compatibility standards that let multiple anti-cheat systems coexist, or accept that players will need to choose between games with conflicting security requirements.
This conflict could set important precedents. How EA and Riot handle the technical resolution will influence how other developers approach similar compatibility issues. The success or failure of their efforts might determine whether kernel level anti-cheat becomes more standardized or more fragmented.
For now, Battlefield 6 players who also enjoy Valorant have a simple workaround. Just don't run both games at once. It's not elegant, but it works until the companies figure out a better solution.
The larger issue is whether the gaming industry's arms race for better anti-cheat protection is creating more problems than it solves. When legitimate players can't run multiple games because their security systems are having territorial disputes, something has gone seriously wrong.
