SOCD techniques have become popular after Razer’s Huntsman V3 Pro gaming keyboard took it to a whole new level that sparked a debate within the community. Counter-Strike being a game that heavily relies on keyboard mechanics will have the skill gap between players bridged thanks to the use of features like Snap Tap and Rapid Trigger.
The community expressed mixed reactions when its potential was displayed in the game and Valve took a stance against the introduction of such technology in their esports scene. Upon the latest update, the developers have restricted any use of SOCD techniques in Counter Strike 2 but players are reporting getting wrongfully kicked from their matches.
According to reports, players using keyboards with SOCD features like Snap Tap and Rapid Trigger turned off, are getting kicked despite not using the automation.
According to Dexerto, their tests have yielded a list of keyboards that are showing signs of getting kicked for CS2 matches:
- Razer Huntsman V3 Pro (Snap Tap on, Rapid Trigger off): Kick for input automation
- Razer Huntsman V3 Pro (Snap Tap off, Rapid Trigger on): No kick
- Razer Huntsman V3 Pro (Snap Tap off, Rapid Trigger off): No kick
- Arbiter Studio Polar 75 Pro (Super Tap on, Rapid Trigger off): Kick for input automation
- Arbiter Studio Polar 75 Pro (Super Tap off, Rapid Trigger on): No kick
- Arbiter Studio Polar 75 Pro (Super Tap off, Rapid Trigger off): No kick
- Wooting 60HE (Rapid Trigger on): No kick*
- Wooting 60HE (Rapid Trigger off): No kick
- Higround Summit 65: No kick
Fans are testing several workarounds but using automations for inputs does help improve players’ mechanical skills. Popular pros like ropz has labeled such features as “literally a macro or script.” and called for it to be banned. At the same time, mechanical skills separate the truly elite players from the average ones.
There is a longer debate to be had over whether this should be allowed in CS2 but as things stand Valve is inclined towards not letting their players use this feature. However, as things stand, Valve did not provide a statement about players getting wrongfully kicked from matches but this remains a persistent issue for players who are not using said features.