Rockstar is making a small but important change to how players sprint in GTA 6. The new instalment appears to be moving away from the button-mashing controls used in earlier GTA titles and switching sprinting to the left stick. This means running around Vice City should require fewer repeated button presses when playing as Jason or Lucia.
GTA 6 Will Use L3/LS for Sprinting
In GTA 5, sprinting required players to repeatedly press X on PlayStation or A on Xbox while moving. The upcoming game is reportedly changing this setup. But according to creator MikeShowSha, who saw the game during a recent Rockstar preview, sprinting is now assigned to L3 on PlayStation. On Xbox, the same function can be performed by clicking the left analog stick.
This should make sprinting feel more natural, while also bringing GTA 6 closer to the controls used in many modern games. It also removes the need to repeatedly tap a face button while running, leaving those buttons available for other actions and potentially reducing wear on our controllers.
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How Will Sprinting Work in GTA 6?
There is still one important detail Rockstar has not explained. It is currently unknown whether players will need to hold L3 while sprinting or press it once to activate the run. The studio has not shared the complete GTA 6 controller layout yet.
It is also unclear if players will be able to remap the sprint control or switch back to the older button-tapping setup.
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Fans Have Mixed Opinions
Fans are divided. Many are glad that Rockstar is getting rid of the repeated button presses, especially since long sprinting sections could make the older controls feel tiring. Others are not convinced by the switch to L3. Some players are concerned about frequently clicking the analog stick, while others simply prefer the controls they have used in previous GTA games.
For now, this is all we know about the new sprint system. More details about GTA 6 controls should be shared before the game’s November 19, 2026 release.
