With “Snap Tap,” Razer has introduced a new feature for keyboards. Wooting offers a similar feature. Valve is now warning that you risk a ban if you use this feature.
What kind of function is it? Snap Tap is a feature on Razer keyboards that detects players attempting to strafe and removes the original input, which presumably leads to faster strafes. Simply put, you no longer have to press an additional key because it happens automatically.
Strafing is when you move sideways while keeping your opponent in sight. Other manufacturers, like Wooting, also rely on a similar function.
The feature is highly controversial among shooter players: some believe that functions like Snap Tap are not a big deal, while others feel disadvantaged without the function and see it as cheating.
With this function, strafing can be executed much more precisely, making you significantly more accurate. Additionally, you can still aim at your opponent while changing position sideways.
Valve bans use in CS:GO 2
How does Valve respond? Valve makes its stance very clear and officially calls for such functions to be disabled in a game update. Otherwise, a ban in the game looms:
If you own a keyboard with an input automation function (e.g., ‘Snap Tap Mode’), ensure that you disable the function before joining a match to avoid disruption of your match.
How exactly and whether Valve can check if someone is using such a function with their keyboard is unknown. Valve remains tight-lipped about this as well. Whether in the end you will just be kicked out of the match or have to face a hard VAC ban is also still unknown.
A similar discussion about Counter-Strike 2 took place when AMD introduced a new feature for its graphics cards. Valve quickly brought out the ban hammer until AMD adjusted the software: Valve warns: Those using a specific feature of AMD graphics cards in Counter-Strike 2 will be banned on Steam
