GTA 6 may change sprint controls: new report says L3 replaces tapping

Italian YouTuber MikeShowSha says Grand Theft Auto 6 might change how sprinting works. According to him, Rockstar Games is replacing the Grand Theft Auto series’ 25-year-old tap-to-sprint setup with a click of the left stick, or L3, to run. He says he heard that during a closed-door hands-on preview. Rockstar hasn’t confirmed any of it, though, so for now it belongs in the rumor pile.

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Still, it’s pretty obvious why people are already split. For some fans, tap-to-sprint is part of Grand Theft Auto’s identity. It adds a certain physical tension to chases, escapes, and fights. Others look at it from the practical side and think an L3 sprint just makes more sense in 2026: less strain on your thumb, better camera control, and a button layout that lines up with most modern action games.

If you grew up with the older Grand Theft Auto games, this is the kind of change you’ll probably want to watch closely. There’s the worry that Rockstar could be sanding off one of the series’ familiar quirks. There’s also the less romantic concern: more L3 wear, more chances for stick drift, and still no word on whether there’ll be a classic control option. Then again, if Grand Theft Auto 6 feels great to play, a lot of this debate may fade fast. MikeShowSha also says the handbrake could move to A or X, which would open space for a Red Dead Redemption 2-style free-fire driving system. Until Rockstar says something through its official channels, and until we get the full current-gen console release details, none of these control changes should be treated as final.