Some Counter Strike 2 players are getting VAC banned after installing the latest AMD driver update. And before you ask, no, AMD isn’t offering cheats with the driver update to make you get more headshots in the game. Instead, it’s the AMD Anti-Lag feature that’s making the players receive a VAC ban.
The driver update in question is 23.10.1, which AMD released earlier this week. Its aim was to fix the stuttering and crash issues with Counter Strike 2. The driver also adds CS2 support for the Anti-Lag+ feature.
Following a Reddit thread that raised the alarm regarding the issue, the CS2 Twitter account has confirmed the issue. The Counter Strike 2 Twitter account has asked AMD customers not to use the feature while playing the game.
What’s Wrong with the AMD Anti-Lag Feature and Why Is It Issuing CS2 Vac Bans?
At the core, the AMD Anti-Lag+ feature minimizes the input lag. It does that by “applying frame alignment with the game code itself.” By doing so, it allows the players to get “better frame syncing, which leads to even lower latency and great gaming experience.”
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In other words, the AMD Anti-Lag feature injects itself into the code of the game. As Valve says, the feature is implemented by “detouring engine dll functions.” Counter Strike 2 interprets it as unauthorized tampering and triggers the VAC ban. The statement from Valve suggests that it doesn’t plan to adjust the VAC on its end to allow players to enjoy the feature.
Instead, the statement from Valve hints that it will wait for AMD to issue a patch. Till then, you should keep the AMD Anti-Lag feature turned off while playing Counter Strike 2. And if you’ve already been banned for playing with the feature, Valve will reverse the ban once the driver issue is solved. We will get you updated when AMD releases a driver hotfix.
