A new preview has confirmed that GTA 6 will change the way sprint works in the series for the first time in 25 years. However, some players are already unhappy with Rockstar updating the classic Grand Theft Auto VI mechanic.
GTA 6 Sprint button Is Changing for the First Time in 25 Years
For as long as most players can remember, running in GTA has required repeatedly tapping the X button to sprint. Even in more recent Rockstar titles such as Red Dead Redemption 2, players have to quickly tap a button to build up Arthur Morgan’s speed, giving the character’s movement a sense of weight. However, a new GTA 6 preview has revealed that Rockstar Games is changing the mechanic for the first time in decades.
According to MikeShowSha, GTA 6 has changed the sprint button from X to L3, which now involves clicking the left joystick. At the time of writing, it’s unclear whether players will have to hold down the joystick or click it once to trigger an auto-run for Jason and Lucia. Regardless, this is a pretty major change for the long-running franchise.
GTA 6 changes the sprint button from X to L3 on PlayStation.
Players will no longer need to repeatedly tap X to sprint, with character movement also described as more fluid compared to RDR2.
(Via MikeShowSha) pic.twitter.com/5t1qT8UAcz— GTA 6 Updates (@gtasix_) September 1, 2026
It hasn’t been confirmed whether GTA 6 will offer players a “classic controller” layout or not. However, according to the preview, Rockstar Games made the change to make running feel more “fluid.” Interestingly, many fans have reacted quite negatively to the major update.
GTA 6 Players Aren’t Happy About the Sprinting Change
After it was revealed that GTA 6 will use a new button for sprinting, many players took to social media to complain about the change. While the classic mechanic may feel less fluid, many fans argued that it added necessary weight and tension to character movement. Others pointed out that tapping X has been such a consistent mechanic in Rockstar games that Grand Theft Auto VI might not feel the same without it.
“X is way better then L3 what a stupid thing to do,” one frustrated player vented on X. Another player agreed, replying, “Awful change. The muscle memory kicks in immediately to tap that X button.”
Some fans even asked Rockstar Games to make the classic “tap X” control an option that players can enable. “I got used to tapping x I hope there’s a setting to change it or remap the controls. From playing COD and other games using L3 as a sprint can become extremely stiff and the controller more likely to get stick drift.”
It should again be reiterated that we don’t yet know whether GTA 6 will include an optional classic sprint control. However, it appears the default control scheme will make a major change to the series’ traversal mechanics for the first time in 25 years. And yeah, players are going to have to get used to it.
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