According to Italian creator MikeShowSha, who attended a GTA VI media preview event hosted by Rockstar North, GTA VI will change Rockstar's long-standing control tradition—sprinting will no longer require repeatedly pressing the X button (on PlayStation platforms), but will instead be triggered by pressing the left stick (L3). This change brings the controls closer to the standard layouts found in most modern third-person and first-person games.
Rockstar has not yet released the full controller layout, so it remains to be confirmed whether L3 is used to toggle sprinting or needs to be held down continuously.
In GTA 5, players accelerate their character by repeatedly pressing the X button, with the frequency of presses directly affecting movement speed. Red Dead Redemption 2 also relies on face buttons for quick movement, making rapid button presses a hallmark of Rockstar's character controls.
According to MikeShowSha, character movement in GTA VI is smoother than in Red Dead Redemption 2. By moving the sprint action to L3, players can control the camera more freely while running, without needing to frequently switch between button presses and the right stick.
This preview also revealed other control details: the X button will serve as an emergency brake while driving, and the vehicle combat system has been expanded, allowing players to fire more flexibly from inside vehicles. Rockstar's recent official demos have showcased plenty of driving and shooting content, but a complete control scheme has yet to be published.
It is also unclear whether the classic Rockstar control layout will be retained as an alternative option. Modern games typically offer multiple controller presets or custom button mapping features, but Rockstar has not yet disclosed details regarding accessibility and customization settings for GTA VI; current information is based solely on the default controls shown during preview events.
This information comes from a series of creator preview events hosted by Rockstar North, where attendees watched gameplay demos operated by Rob Nelson, Co-Studio Head and Development Director at Rockstar North. The events also revealed more details about GTA VI's combat, character systems, police mechanics, vehicles, and open-world activities.
GTA VI is scheduled to launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on November 19, 2026.