Leaked gameplay reveals a GTA 6 prone feature Rockstar quietly dropped

Time of India

21 hours ago

Source: Rockstar Games
A leaked clip that surfaced recently has raised some eyebrows among the Grand Theft Auto fan community by featuring protagonist Jason executing a prone or crawling action, a first for the series.
The clip, allegedly recorded from an early development build of GTA 6, has fueled speculations on whether the mechanic was originally intended as part of the core gameplay mechanics or merely a test drive. Most have come to accept that the ability was eventually cut out of the final version.
Video captures Jason crawling in early dev build
The leaked gameplay appeared on Reddit and social media, depicting Jason going prone, flat on the ground, crawling, similar to stealth or military titles.
The video looked legit, with fans pointing out early HUD features and animation holders common in in-dev builds.
This new movement caused instant speculation. Some assumed it was the beginning of a stealth gameplay redesign, possibly offering players increased tactical choices during missions. Others figured it could have been a scripted sequence for a cutscene or one-shot scene, much like set-piece scenes in previous GTA games.
The video was promising in its potential to add variety to gameplay mechanics, but it also sparked concerns over how that would impact balance, particularly in multiplayer.
Removed from final build along with other cut features
Soon after the leak, various reputable insiders and GTA news sites confirmed the prone ability had been cut from the final game. It is part of an increasing number of mechanics, a list that includes dual-wielding and burglary mini-games, which Rockstar apparently cut after testing internally.
Sources are saying the prone option failed to meet Rockstar's expectations and was scrapped because of problems related to mission design balance and online playability. Some insiders called the mechanic
"clunky"
and out of sync with the game's flow.
Rockstar has yet to comment on the footage officially or explain why the feature was dropped.
Although the prone mechanic could have brought a new depth to GTA 6 gameplay, it seems Rockstar decided that it wanted things to remain lean and uncluttered. The leaked clip provided a glimpse of what might have been, a reminder of how much changes in development before a game is released. Fans want to know: what else was cut from the cutting room floor?
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