Valve now tracking CS2 players who use controversial Snap Tap devices, but no bans yet

Valve will now be keeping a close eye on those who use SnapTap in Counter-Strike 2 after an update for the shooter went live today. For those currently giving the controversial feature a go in CS2, fear not—Valve isn’t dishing out bans yet.

Today’s CS2 update includes several map changes and other miscellaneous bugfixes as well as an important change to tagging effects, but interest was piqued after a discovery was made by dataminer Gabe Follower on X (formerly Twitter). Valve’s added a few strings to the backend containing SnapTap, specifically “SnapTapStats” and “SnapTapDetection,” likely to begin tracking those who use the keyboard feature.

For those out of the loop, the CS2 community has traded blows over SnapTap, a new feature provided with a line of Razer-manufactured keyboards that allow users to perform “flawless counter-strafing”—a technique that otherwise takes time, practice, and know-how. Fellow manufacturer Wooting has also developed a similar technology, and while it has been cleared by several tournament organizers, some pros and fans believe the feature should fall under an external assistance category, and thus, outlawed.

Now that Valve has added a way to track and detect Snap Tap, many are worried the next step will involve banning players who use the tech, but there is no evidence yet to suggest Valve will go that far. ESL and FACEIT made their stance clear in early August, stating they would not forbid users from using the tech but the use of null binds (a non-hardware method to replicate Snap Tap’s effect without Razer or Wooting keyboards) remains forbidden.

For now, it seems Valve is keeping an eye on those using Snap Tap in games and tracking their stats, but the end goal of the detection remains unknown. It seems you’re well within your rights to continue using Snap Tap for the time being.

But just remember, it’s Valve’s world in CS2; we’re just living in it.