Adjustable actuation keyboards, which let gamers fine-tune how hard or soft they need to press a key to register a keystroke, have become a hot trend in the gaming world. However, Valve has raised concerns about a new feature available on Razer and Wooting keyboards that could disrupt fair play in online gaming.
The feature in question, called “Snap Tap,” can trigger cheating flags in Counter-Strike 2 when enabled. But what exactly does Snap Tap do? It’s a function that detects inputs on two different keys at the same time and only activates the one pressed last. With the ultra-fast polling rates of modern gaming keyboards, this difference can be a matter of milliseconds.
For gamers with lightning-fast reflexes and an adjustable actuation keyboard, Snap Tap mode enables incredibly quick character movements. This feature is particularly advantageous in online shooters, where players can use it to rapidly strafe left and right, making it harder for opponents to aim accurately.
Valve isn’t too happy about this, though. In a community note highlighted by The Verge, Valve points out that Snap Tap can allow players to execute multiple in-game actions with a single key press, which is similar to using macros — something that’s banned in competitive play. Valve argues that Snap Tap achieves the same effect, but through hardware rather than software.
While adjustable actuation keyboards already allow multiple actions to be bound to different pressure levels on a single key, Snap Tap takes it further by enabling rapid movement with just two keystrokes. This has sparked debate in the gaming community, with some players praising the feature for the edge it gives them, while others decry it as a form of cheating. Given the competitive nature of online gaming, it wouldn’t be surprising to see other keyboard manufacturers adopt similar features — and other games ban them.
If you’re using a Razer Huntsman with analog optical switches or a Wooting keyboard that supports the “SOCD” feature in Counter-Strike 2, be sure to disable Snap Tap or SOCD in the settings to avoid getting flagged.
