ESL Outlaws Snap Tap, SOCD & Similar Keyboard Features

We recently reported how Valve strongly opposed movement automation in Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), including the iconic Jump-Throw keybind and third-party programs, such as Snap Tap. Now, ESL has followed suit, banning the use of these types of programs at in-person events, starting with ESL Pro League (EPL) Season 20, which runs from 3 to 22 September 2024.

A program such as Razer's Snap Tap, Wooting's SOCD can allow for movement automation, or Rappy Snappy, which is seen as giving the player an unfair advantage by using a single key to deliver more than one movement/attack input command in CS2.

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In a no-nonsense blog post, ESL announced this news, stating that:

Ahead of the next ESL Pro Tour in-person event for Counter-Strike, the upcoming ESL Pro League Season 20, we’re announcing that the use of Snap Tap, Rappy Snappy, SOCD or similar assistants that produce the same outcome will no longer be allowed. 

While this relates to the use during our in-person competitions, we will follow up with an update for competitions that take place online in due course. This will in the interim create some inconsistencies until detection and ways to enforce are in place.

To be clear, it's not that ESL doesn't want this ban on the usage of Snap Tap, SOCD, and others at online events, but a way to consistently and accurately detect its use without players present at a venue is not available at the time of writing.

BLAST Premier already banned the use of these programs in their events, other big tournament organizers will likely follow suit, especially those with prospects of hosting a Major Championship and RMR events, where Valve's rules already apply across the board. 

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