Valve cracks down on Counter Strike input automation & SOCD Snap Tap exploits

Posted on by AMK Station

The use of macros for input automation or hardware modes such as Snap Tap will now result in penalties on official Counter-Strike 2 servers, as announced by Valve.

Counter-strafing has always been an essential aspect of Counter-Strike’s level of difficulty. The skill of swiftly stopping and shooting at opponents not only improves aiming but also decreases recoil, as long as you have mastered the technique.

To execute this maneuver, simply tap the opposite strafe key (typically A or D) while in motion. This will bring you to an immediate halt, preventing any sliding and reducing momentum and inertia. Becoming proficient in this technique is crucial in competitive Counter-Strike, as it is considered an essential skill for aspiring players to hone in order to advance to higher levels of play.

Nevertheless, in July 2024, Razer unveiled a new input mode called “Snap Tap” on the Razer Huntsman V3 keyboard.

Razer Huntsman V3 Pro
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Wooting’s “Rappy Snappy”mode received a response, leading to Arbiter Studio’s inclusion of a similar feature called “Super Tap”in their gaming keyboards.

The Counter-Strike community has been in a state of turmoil since the implementation of the Snap Tap mode, which has been criticized for reducing the skill ceiling and providing an unfair advantage to players with better hardware.

As a result, certain users who did not have a compatible keyboard resorted to utilizing input automation scripts and null binds in order to imitate the effectiveness of Snap Tap for counter-strafing.

Valve Takes Action Against Input Automation

On August 19, Valve released a news post stating that the use of hardware features and community-written scripts will not be allowed on official servers for Counter-Strike 2. The post includes an excerpt which reads:

“From now on, we will not tolerate any form of automation, whether through scripting or hardware, that bypasses the use of core skills. This policy will be enforced immediately on Valve Official Servers, and players who are suspected of automating multiple player actions from a single game input may face removal from their match.”

The post also mentions that the ruling affects both null binds and jump-throw binds. To ensure fair gameplay, the developer of Counter-Strike 2 advised players to disable keyboard modes such as Snap Tap before entering a match.

Marc Winther, Director of Game Ecosystems in CS2 for ESL, stated in late July that they do not have any specific preferences for equipment, a stance that has been held even before the implementation of new features by brands such as Wooting and Razer.

SOCD Explained

At the core of the problem lies a technique for cleaning inputs called SOCD (Simultaneous Opposing Cardinal Direction). By using Snap Tap, one can efficiently change the last input made to the opposite cardinal direction, while simultaneously pressing the opposite button.

The implementation of SOCD rules has stirred up controversy before, as Capcom previously addressed similar concerns for Capcom Pro Tour events leading up to the launch of Street Fighter 6. This was in response to the emergence of leverless controllers, such as the Hitbox.

Capcom ultimately concluded that SOCD cleaning would result in an Up input when two opposing directions, specifically Up and Down, are pressed simultaneously.

Following the ruling, manufacturers quickly scrambled to provide hardware firmware updates in order to comply. However, the consequences of this decision have implications for the brands and players who were early adopters of the feature in Counter-Strike 2.

Wooting has responded to Valve’s decision on X/Twitter, expressing their satisfaction with the stance taken.

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