Valve bans ‘Snap Tap’ technology from CS: GO2 events

Another big shake-up in the world of gaming was recently announced when developer Valve stated that they were drawing a clear line under Snap Tap technology and its usage with the popular title Counter-Strike 2. The developer has flat-out decided to ban the keyboard automation feature from the latest update in a move that will no doubt divide the community once again.

Snap Tap technology has been a massive game changer, with keyboard manufacturers Razer and Wooting both having developed similar versions of the technology, which allows users to perform “flawless counter-strafing”.

While the technology has been accepted into many major pro gaming tournaments, Counter-Strike 2 developers Valve have stepped in to put an end to this and certain other scripting features that can impact the game. Now it remains to be seen if other developers follow suit.

Gaming the game

It’s an innate human trait to want to gain an advantage. Whether that’s an upgrade of computer memory, a more responsive controller or Snap Tap technology, there are plenty of things that have been designed to give gamers a bit of a leg up. But all formats of gaming have rules.

A good example is with online casinos and bonuses, many of which can be found rated by experts CasinoTopsOnline. The best online casinos have a wide range of security and policy measures to make sure players cannot manipulate the rules and terms of conditions under which they play. Users expect fair gaming from a platform, and in turn, are expected to play within parameters.

Gamblers who visit online casinos to test their skills at poker or at the blackjack table can validly argue that successes through advantages are down to skill in understanding percentages and reading the game. The same train of thought applies to other e-games as well – that it is better left alone as a skill-based endeavor. The playing field has to be level for everyone.

What is Snap Tap?

It is still fairly new and may not have popped up on some players’ radars yet. So, what is Snap Tap? The technology is a form of Simultaneous Opposing Cardinal Directions (SOCD), which brings the advantage of not having to release one direction button to press another. This is hugely advantageous when performing defensive strafing maneuvers in Counter-Strike 2.

The counter-strafing debate

Picture a player holding down the A button on their keyboard to shift to the left, but they make a split-second decision to shift back to the right to get off a defensive shot to outmaneuver their opponent. To do that, they would need to lift off the A button and press the D button, which could be something that costs them a crucial microsecond.

Any slight pause, or even pressing both buttons at the same time causing a stop and leaving themselves vulnerable could be costly.

Snap Tap is a keyboard feature where the second button being pressed overrides the one that is already being held. This cuts out any timing delay in movement and delivers that precious and much discussed “flawless counter-strafing”.

Why is Snap Tap contentious?

Script-based advantages can’t be used in professional gaming tournaments. But Snap Tap circumvents that because it is firmware that’s built into the keyboard hardware. It can be grabbed through a download for compatible devices and is preloaded on Razer’s Huntsman V3 Pro keyboard line.

The problem for even-keel gaming is that not everyone has the same keyboard, and therefore not everyone will have access to the feature. For those who have it, great, but those who don’t and have to go up against players who have this added benefit can immediately be put at a disadvantage.

There is also the question of players potentially abusing the advantage. Players can just endlessly strafe with much improved defensive counter shot accuracy within the game, and with external assistance, essentially spam opponents.

What is Valve doing?

Valve has taken a firm stance by monitoring play in Counter-Strike 2 and now automatically searches for hardware-assisted counter-strafing. If this shows up on any of the official Valve servers, the player will get kicked out of the match.

The developer contends that “scripting and automating player commands” have always been contentious things in gaming, so they are no longer going to be accepting either scripting or hardware automation because of what it takes away from players.

The developer argues that allowing additional automation in the game takes away from the real contest of player vs player skill. Players are instead encouraged to develop their reaction times and coordination to get better at Counter-Strike 2.

If one input triggers multiple player actions, for example, such advantages wipe away countless hours of practice that leads to instinct and honed skills, which is where the real gaming advantage should be.

Valve’s official word on this is: “We are no longer going to allow automation (via scripting or hardware) that circumvent these core skills and, moving forward, (and initially – exclusively on Valve Official Servers) players suspected of automating multiple player actions from a single game input may be kicked from their match.”

They went on to add:

“To prevent accidental infractions, in-game binds that include more than one movement and/or attack actions will no longer work (e.g., null-binds and jump-throw bind). If you have a keyboard that includes an input-automation feature (e.g., Snap Tap Mode), be sure to disable the feature before you join a match to avoid any interruption to your matches.”

Where players currently stand

The update in question was launched in mid-August. The initial status was that Valve was monitoring the controversial Snap Tap feature on their servers but hadn’t moved to ban players, yet the detection is ongoing and it is unknown where this will all end up. The official advice from the developer is to simply turn off Snap Tap.

Will other developers follow suit?

This is a big move by Valve, who runs one of the most popular gaming titles in the world, and in their eyes, it has been made out of necessity. They have drawn their line in the sand and because of their never-ending, exhausting fight against cheats through Valve Anti-Cheat, they have nipped a potential new threat in the bud, potentially avoiding sweeping bans down the line.

SOCD advantages are not exclusive to CS2, of course, it’s just highlighted more in the community than a lot of other games. Other major titles like Overwatch and Valorant are affected by Snap Tap as well. However, there are differences.

The advantages of SOCD technology feel less impactful in other titles than what Valve is facing with the strafing issue in Counter-Strike 2. That’s because counter-strafing is, at the end of the day, one of the most crucial survival skills that players can learn in CS2. Valve’s reaction, therefore, may not lead to this being the case of the floodgates opening and other developers slamming the door on Snap Tap.

Snap Tap was initially tested at the ESL Pro League Season 19 when just four players were found to be using it. At IEM Cologne 2024, the number of players had jumped to 39, and even players’ stats at that point were being scrutinized due to improvements in form through the use of Snap Tap.

ESL has their say

There was a further big development in the Snap Tap saga in late August 2024, when the ESL released a statement on their blog saying that they are prohibiting Snap Tap in the upcoming ESL Pro Season 20 tournaments. ESL Pro Season 20 runs from September 3-22 in St. Julian’s, Malta, and features 32 teams.

Joshua White is a passionate and experienced website article writer with a keen eye for detail and a knack for crafting engaging content. With a background in journalism and digital marketing, Joshua brings a unique perspective to his writing, ensuring that each piece resonates with readers. His dedication to delivering high-quality, informative, and captivating articles has earned him a reputation for excellence in the industry. When he’s not writing, Joshua enjoys exploring new topics and staying up-to-date with the latest trends in content creation.

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