Valve finally takes a stance on macros and reveals VACNET 3.0

Most players use the basic equipment regular keyboards and mice give them to play games like Counter-Strike 2. This is usually because using special equipment and macros blurs the line between what’s fair and what’s cheating. Wile the use of macros has always been rather controversial, Valve has taken a stance on the matter.

Today, we’re here to go through everything you need to know about Valve’s stance on macros. Additionally, we’re also here to go through the VACNET 3.0 the company has revealed and what it means for the future of Counter-Strike and competitive Valve games in general, especially for those who want to climb the ranks.

So, without further ado, here’s everything to know about Valve’sstance on macros.

Can players use input automation in Counter-Strike 2?

In a new blog post for Counter-Strike 2, Valve reveals its banning input-automation keyboard features because they break the game’s rules and create an unfair environment that favors people who pay for an advantage. Null binds are also not allowed in Counter-Strike 2 anymore.

Valve shared this information after the release of Razer’s Snap Tap, which caused a discussion among the Counter-Strike 2 community about whether using external tools provided by hardware manufacturers is fair. Although the company didn’t name any company in the blog post, it’s a stand against Razer’s Snap Tap and Wooting’s Snappy Tappy. 

Valve said this regarding external tools in the blog post: 

"Recently, some hardware features have blurred the line between manual input and automation, so we've decided to draw a clear line on what is or isn't acceptable in Counter-Strike. We are no longer going to allow automation (via scripting or hardware) that circumvents these core skills and, moving forward, (and initially, exclusively on Valve Official Servers) players suspected of automating multiple player actions from a single game input may be kicked from their match." 

This statement means that while these tools won’t work in official matchmaking servers, they might work in custom servers and other matchmaking services like FACEIT or ESEA if they allow it.

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What will Valve do to combat input automation in Counter-Strike 2?

To combat this problem, VACNET 3.0 will launch in Counter-Strike 2. In addition to detecting input-automation, the new anti-cheat will detect and block cheaters in the game. Since it’s a brand-new anti-cheat system, the developers will deploy it in select matches. If someone gets detected, the match will end mid-way with a message sharing that a cheater was in the game. 

What sets VACNET 3.0 apart from previous iterations of the anti-cheat is that it uses new advanced algorithms and machine learning methods to identify cheating activity of suspicious players. In the patch notes, Valve says that players can expect false positives and cancellations, so if anyone thinks their match got incorrectly canceled, they can email them at [email protected] and share the match details.