Key takeaway: Valve has taken a stand on controversial keyboard features that some argue give an unfair advantage, prompting a response from affected companies.
For those unfamiliar, Razer stirred up debate in the competitive gaming community by introducing Snap Tap support to its Huntsman V3 Pro keyboards. This technology effectively reduces input lag when changing directions in games like Counter-Strike 2, allowing for movements that were previously impossible.
Wooting, a competitor in the keyboard market, initially opposed the idea but eventually implemented a similar feature to gather user feedback. Now, Valve has clarified its position on the issue.
The game developer and publisher has established clear boundaries on what is considered acceptable in Counter-Strike. Going forward, any form of automation (whether through scripting or hardware) that undermines fundamental skills like coordination and reaction time will not be tolerated.
The recent buzz surrounding Valve’s stance on Snap Tap is over. We appreciate Valve’s decision to prohibit the use of Snap Tap (SOCD) or Rappy Snappy in CS2, which will now lead to removal from matches. https://t.co/VN5sFTDu3m
– wooting (@WootingKB) August 20, 2024
Valve has announced that any players caught \”automating multiple player actions from a single game input\” on official servers will be ejected from their match. The Verge’s Tom Warren tested simultaneous opposing cardinal directions (SOCD) after the update on a Valve server and was promptly removed from the session. Notably, there doesn’t appear to be an account ban associated with the offense (at least not yet) – just removal from the match.
Additionally, Valve stated that in-game binds involving multiple movement/attack actions will no longer function to prevent inadvertent violations.
Wooting expressed support for Valve’s decision to crack down on Snap Tap and urged players to refrain from using Snappy Tappy or Rappy Snappy in Counter-Strike 2.
Considering Counter-Strike 2 has taken a stand against such features, it’s possible that other games will follow suit in banning their use. Perhaps addressing bots and more traditional cheating tools will be the next step.
Image credit: John Petalcurin
