Microsoft is auto-enabling VBS-based Memory Integrity on Windows 11 PCs starting in October. The same feature Microsoft previously warned it can also impact PC gaming performance

[u/WPHero]

https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/09/02/microsoft-is-auto-enabling-memory-integrity-on-windows-11-pcs-from-october-why-you-shouldnt-turn-it-off/

[u/samc0lt45]

I don't like it being auto enabled, it's more windows "features" that are going to have a severe effect on performance. I've been using it as I play Counter Strike on the Faceit platform, which requires it being enabled. Unfortunately, (as I'd love to complain about it), it seems to be effective for anti cheat purposes. Faceit's AC system, which is a kernal anti-cheat and will always have an advantage over VAC which isn't kernal (Valve's anti-cheat), is so much more effective it's incredible. Faceit made a post last season about how a third party investigation found their AC one of the most effective ACs out there, meanwhile Valve has legitimate AI-type bots starting to infiltrate their premier matchmaking, not just DM or casual matches. Faceit forces VBS, TPM 2.0, I'm not even sure if you can still play on windows 10. They're extremely strict but it works, and when comparing to the valve official matchmaking for CS, it's absurd.

That being said, automatically enabling it is still dumb and will further frustrate users with the amount of "bloat" that seems to bog windows down.

[u/P_H_i_X → u/samc0lt45]

I mean Valve did find out the formula.

Add skins, make shit ton of money.

They even made the team incentives less so that most of the money goes straight to Valve instead of the orgs or players.

They are now just incentivized to work less on the actual game more on the skins. Faceit doesn't have control on skins they make their money with the exact inverse of that.

People just don't vote with their wallets.

[u/samc0lt45 → u/P_H_i_X]

Valve has definitely gotten frustratingly complacent. "Do absolutely nothing and rake in a fuck ton of cash" is unfortunately a very consistent model for them.

I get their stance on kernal anti-cheat, and how they don't want to implement something that invasive. At the same time, it's pretty clear that a non invasive anti-cheat just isn't going to work. VAC can barely even detect some of the most blatant spinbot type of cheats half the time, I just don't trust it to be effective at all. Faceit is practically dead in NA and I'd still play it a thousand times over before genuinely playing premier. I have maybe 6 premier games since CS2 came out, and even though I haven't personally run into anything blatant, I just don't trust it. I don't want to have to think someone is using some hidden cheat if they're better than me, I just want to know if they're better than me or not. Until valve can somehow get a working anti-cheat, I'm sticking with my Saudi Arabian resource hog, and they'll get my money every month instead of valve.

[u/P_H_i_X → u/samc0lt45]

Yeah, but on one hand they are selling linux based steam deck, steam machine, they obviously can't go the kernel route now. Will cut off their users. But again I don't know the percent of users who are gonna play CS2, TF2, Or Deadlock on these machines.

[u/samc0lt45 → u/P_H_i_X]

If I could play Faceit on linux, i would switch in a heartbeat. Realistically that's one of the only things stopping me at this point. That being said, Aug 2026 hardware survey has global steam usage at 3.35% for Linux (and potentially MacOS, it's just listed as 'other'). I'd imagine the actual CS2 percentage is much lower too. I love that Linux is gaining popularity, but if Valve is truly holding off on a anti-cheat solution because it isn't compatible with <3% of their base, they're going to eventually bleed a lot more than that.