Valve has been strict on keyboard input advancements and has harshly criticized input automation features, even going so far as to cite Snap Tap as an example. In a key blog post, Valve stopped short of threatening to ban CS2 players, instead warning that matches could be interrupted if the feature is left on.
Some of the best gaming keyboards feature this new input technology. Snap Tap is Razer’s version, but it’s not the only one to be blacklisted by Valve. Wooting’s Rappy Snappy is also targeted for discontinuation, a move that sets a worrying precedent for other competitive shooters.
The feature known as Snap Tap has highly divided opinions within the Counter-Strike community, with some viewing it as cheating and others seeing it as taking advantage of new technological advancements that are technically accessible to anyone with the right keyboard.
But Valve has made its position clear, officially requesting this in today’s game update: “If you have a keyboard that includes input automation features (such as ‘Snap Tap mode’), please make sure to disable that feature before joining a match to avoid match interruptions.”
It’s not yet known whether Valve has a way to detect if a feature like Snap Tap is being used and issue bans as a result, but the implied threat to suspend matches seems to suggest that it may be possible to detect the use of such a feature.
Other parts of the update completely ban scripts used to “circumvent core skills,” which includes null binds and jump throw binds. Initial community feedback via X (formerly Twitter) has been divided, with many CS2 players noting that this issue is nothing compared to the more blatant cheating on official servers, while others support the change, arguing that it puts the game back on a level playing field again and eliminates hardware advantages.
We’ll have more to share on this matter as it develops, and we await official responses from companies like Razer and Wooting to see what they have to say about this controversial move.