Can Steam Macro Automation Get You Banned?

[Space Pony]

pretty much any game is against Botting or even Automation, let alone Hacking or Modyfing its Data without consent or license.

i have gotten bans in different games from automating long and complex tasks using macros with other software that, understandably, could be interpreted as "malicious" when its just a macro app.

therefore, my question is:

If Steam Itself, Through Big Picture Mode/Steam Deck Controller Customization Functions, Is Letting me Create Huge, Complex Macros That Include Coordinated, Sequenced Autoclickers and also Sequenced Key Pressing...
¿can someone get banned from literally using JUST Steam Itself?

¿what does this mean for advanced Steam Deck Users?

¿is there a REAL limit on how far we can go with just macros until the banhammer speaks?

[Mad Scientist]

Games with Anti-Cheats can see & punish for macros if they're used to give an unfair advantage, ie cheating. Don't use macros in protected games to avoid the risk. Do note, anti-cheats can also see running tasks attempting to hook into the game and will issue a ban if it's used for cheating. OSD apps meant to cheat can also be detected and can result in game bans.

You wont get banned from using Steam itself unless you do serious violations on the platform or against the platform.

[Space Pony]

Originally posted by Mad Scientist:

Games with Anti-Cheats can see & punish for macros if they're used to give an unfair advantage, ie cheating. Don't use macros in protected games to avoid the risk. Do note, anti-cheats can also see running tasks attempting to hook into the game and will issue a ban if it's used for cheating. OSD apps meant to cheat can also be detected and can result in game bans.

You wont get banned from using Steam itself unless you do serious violations on the platform or against the platform.

so what you're telling me is:

that anyone can automate endgame dungeons or areas in any random MMORPG, even the bigger ones, and leave their character (properly set up of course) farming non-stop for days or even weeks without getting banned for it just because the "bot" is Steam Itself and not an unlicensed third party software?

[BJWyler]

Originally posted by Space Pony:

Originally posted by Mad Scientist:

Games with Anti-Cheats can see & punish for macros if they're used to give an unfair advantage, ie cheating. Don't use macros in protected games to avoid the risk. Do note, anti-cheats can also see running tasks attempting to hook into the game and will issue a ban if it's used for cheating. OSD apps meant to cheat can also be detected and can result in game bans.

You wont get banned from using Steam itself unless you do serious violations on the platform or against the platform.

so what you're telling me is:

that anyone can automate endgame dungeons or areas in any random MMORPG, even the bigger ones, and leave their character (properly set up of course) farming non-stop for days or even weeks without getting banned for it just because the "bot" is Steam Itself and not an unlicensed third party software?

Incorrect. Steam will not ban you for using macros. Any multiplayer game will ban you for using macros if it is against their terms of service.

[Mad Scientist]

Originally posted by Space Pony:

Originally posted by Mad Scientist:

Games with Anti-Cheats can see & punish for macros if they're used to give an unfair advantage, ie cheating. Don't use macros in protected games to avoid the risk. Do note, anti-cheats can also see running tasks attempting to hook into the game and will issue a ban if it's used for cheating. OSD apps meant to cheat can also be detected and can result in game bans.

You wont get banned from using Steam itself unless you do serious violations on the platform or against the platform.

so what you're telling me is:

that anyone can automate endgame dungeons or areas in any random MMORPG, even the bigger ones, and leave their character (properly set up of course) farming non-stop for days or even weeks without getting banned for it just because the "bot" is Steam Itself and not an unlicensed third party software?

Macros or Macro-based programs used to automate tasks may be against their rules, which I would highly suggest reading their rules on macros & botting behavior. Apps detected or blocked by an anti-cheat can trigger a ban especially if they're attempted to be used.

Many games support in-game macro systems, which are entirely ok to use. Though again, refer to any of their macro & botting rules.

Standard macros are almost always fine, ie communication macros or targeting/next-target.
Which is why I mention anything used to give an unfair advantage (cheating) is almost always against the rules. Read the Developers rules for the game or send them an e-mail/support ticket if you want to be totally certain.

Botting is generally frowned upon in numerous MMOs and usually against the rules, in which they can blank out or ban characters & accounts associated with it. Other games might not care or may not have a policy, in which it's "do at your own risk"

[Space Pony]

Originally posted by Mad Scientist:

Originally posted by Space Pony:

so what you're telling me is:

that anyone can automate endgame dungeons or areas in any random MMORPG, even the bigger ones, and leave their character (properly set up of course) farming non-stop for days or even weeks without getting banned for it just because the "bot" is Steam Itself and not an unlicensed third party software?

Macros or Macro-based programs used to automate tasks may be against their rules, which I would highly suggest reading their rules on macros & botting behavior. Apps detected or blocked by an anti-cheat can trigger a ban especially if they're attempted to be used.

Many games support in-game macro systems, which are entirely ok to use. Though again, refer to any of their macro & botting rules.

Standard macros are almost always fine, ie communication macros or targeting/next-target.
Which is why I mention anything used to give an unfair advantage (cheating) is almost always against the rules. Read the Developers rules for the game or send them an e-mail/support ticket if you want to be totally certain.

Botting is generally frowned upon in numerous MMOs and usually against the rules, in which they can blank out or ban characters & accounts associated with it. Other games might not care or may not have a policy, in which it's "do at your own risk"

yeah, but getting banned from using a function on the platform the game itself is running in just sounds ridiculous, but still possible since it breaks the game's rules, yet its already there when you install the game, and download it, so its kind of a legal loop of absurdity, all steam games come with a bot because steam has botting functions by itself, no need for anything else, no need to download anything, or even "try", no need to cheat, no need to hack, no need to 3rd party, no need to modify memory, no need of nothing beyond just the Steam Client by Itself.

if i have not made myself clear already: The Steam Client is Already a Botting App Just Waiting to be Configured by ANY user, including you, me, uncle rogers, grandma, or whoever is reading this.

this does NOT break any rules from the Steam Platform, yet devs are against it, yet devs already signed the contract for all Steam Platform Functions to be Executed on their Games, since these games are already on the Steam Platform, run through it, and have the Steam Overlay System constantly running on top of them (even if you disable it).

Originally posted by BJWyler:

Originally posted by Space Pony:

so what you're telling me is:

that anyone can automate endgame dungeons or areas in any random MMORPG, even the bigger ones, and leave their character (properly set up of course) farming non-stop for days or even weeks without getting banned for it just because the "bot" is Steam Itself and not an unlicensed third party software?

Incorrect. Steam will not ban you for using macros. Any multiplayer game will ban you for using macros if it is against their terms of service.

not talking about VAC bans, imagine getting banned from steam because you're using steam lmao xD

[Taebrythn]

if you have been banned multiple times from various games it tells me you like to cheat and wanna know if you can get away with it. you have not learned your lesson. it's not hard to read their rules. you break them then take that chance of being banned. no one will feel sorry for you.

[Space Pony]

Originally posted by Taebrythn:

if you have been banned multiple times from various games it tells me you like to cheat and wanna know if you can get away with it. you have not learned your lesson. it's not hard to read their rules. you break them then take that chance of being banned. no one will feel sorry for you.

the steam client is the bot, so devs have to remove their games or what?
seriously, theres steam deck users doing this already, its been like that for years, and the only thing they're using is just Steam.

my concern is the huge legal loop here, since technically nobody can ban you from use Steam's Own Functions if they have already agreed to have them running on their games so they can release them on the Steam Shop and get an income.

still, is against most game's rules, yet the devs have already agreed for it to be used on their games.

so now what?