Grand Theft Auto 6 fans are examining every new detail from the game’s previews, and a seemingly minor control change has sparked an unusually heated debate: sprinting may be assigned to the L3 button.
The detail came from MikeShowSha, an Italian YouTuber who published a 26-minute video containing additional impressions of the upcoming game. In a follow-up video, he answered questions about how protagonists Jason and Lucia control and whether movement feels less rigid than it did in earlier entries or Red Dead Redemption 2.
MikeShowSha said that sprinting in GTA 6 is performed by pressing the left analogue stick — known as L3 on PlayStation controllers. Earlier games commonly assigned sprinting to a face button, such as X on a PlayStation gamepad.
He described the movement as more fluid than Red Dead Redemption 2 and generally less clumsy. However, he also stressed that his comments were based on what he observed during a hands-off preview rather than personal play. He encouraged viewers to experience the game themselves, while saying the footage left him optimistic.
Why the L3 change matters
The biggest uncertainty is how the command works. MikeShowSha did not clarify whether players must keep L3 depressed while sprinting or simply click the stick to activate a toggle. He also mentioned that GTA 6 includes many accessibility options, without identifying any specific settings for movement controls.
Rockstar’s previous releases have included alternative control schemes, but it remains unknown whether GTA 6 will provide the same flexibility. That lack of detail has encouraged players to focus on the potential drawbacks.
Some fans are concerned that repeatedly pressing or holding L3 could create discomfort during a very long game. The main story is reported to take at least 80 hours without extensive optional content, while the game world itself is expected to be enormous. For players already worried about controller wear, frequent stick clicks have raised fears about damaged analogue controls and stick drift.
Using L3 to sprint is already common in many modern shooters, but that familiarity has not made the arrangement popular with everyone. Players discussing the rumour described sore hands after only a few hours, while others called the prospect of holding L3 to run especially unpleasant.
“Holding L3 to sprint instead of tapping sounds like torture,” one fan wrote.
Another commenter said three controllers had failed in less than a year, with repeated L3 and R3 presses appearing before stick drift developed. These are individual experiences, not confirmation that GTA 6 will cause hardware failures, but they explain why the control question has attracted so much attention.
Remapping could provide an alternative
Players may not be stuck with the default arrangement. Higher-end PlayStation and Xbox controllers support button remapping, including custom control layouts and toggle-based options. Both consoles also offer system-wide accessibility settings that can assign controls differently.
There are compromises. Console-level remapping must be changed between games, and the on-screen prompts inside the game may continue showing the standard button layout. That mismatch can be confusing, particularly for players who are unaware that custom assignments are available.
For advice on choosing and configuring gaming hardware, RETROCADE’s Arcade Machine Buying Guide offers a useful starting point. Players interested in physical gaming setups can also browse arcade parts for joysticks, buttons and repairs, or explore the latest stories in the RETROCADE arcade blog.
A small detail with a large reaction
The L3 discussion may ultimately prove minor if GTA 6 offers a sprint toggle or a broad range of control options. For now, the reaction demonstrates how closely players are studying every available glimpse of Rockstar’s next open-world crime game.
Control debates have attracted hundreds of thousands of views and thousands of upvotes across social media. Until players can test the system themselves, the key questions remain whether sprinting requires a continuous L3 press and whether the final game supports alternate layouts.
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