Valve has officially banned the use of keyboard automation in Counter-Strike 2, targeting features that could give players an unfair advantage.
This decision comes in response to the controversy surrounding Razer’s Snap Tap technology, which had been integrated into their Huntsman V3 Pro keyboards. The feature effectively removed input lag when switching between opposite directions in games, enabling movements otherwise impossible in normal gameplay.
The competitive gaming community reacted strongly to this feature, with rival keyboard maker Wooting initially opposing the idea. Despite their reservations, Wooting eventually introduced a similar feature to gather user feedback. However, Valve has now made its stance clear, stating that any form of automation—whether through scripting or hardware—that bypasses essential skills like coordination and reaction time is unacceptable in Counter-Strike 2.
So this little hype is over, we are glad Valve has taken a stance against Snap Tap. Don’t use Snappy Tappy (SOCD) or Rappy Snappy in CS2 any more as it will result in a kick. https://t.co/VN5sFTDu3m
— wooting (@WootingKB) August 20, 2024
As a result, players suspected of “automating multiple player actions from a single game input” on official Valve servers will be ejected from their matches. Tom Warren from The Verge tested this by attempting to use simultaneous opposing cardinal directions (SOCD) after the update and was promptly removed from the game. Notably, this enforcement currently only results in a match removal rather than an account ban.
Valve also announced that in-game binds combining multiple movement or attack actions will no longer function, aiming to prevent accidental rule violations. Wooting expressed support for Valve’s decision on X (formerly Twitter), urging gamers to avoid using Snap Tap or any similar features in Counter-Strike 2.
The implications of this ban could extend beyond Counter-Strike 2, as other games may follow suit in prohibiting such features.
