Key highlights
- There is a buzz on social media, saying that GTA 6 will get GTA 5’s scrapped climbing feature
- Handholds’ feature could address long-standing complaints about the series’ parkour system
- There is no official confirmation from GTA 6’s creators
As Grand Theft Auto 6’s release date is slowly approaching, there is a buzz on social media platforms that says that there might be a chance that players will see a “scrapped” feature from GTA 5 in GTA 6.
Years before release an idea was tested and scrapped in GTA 5 called “Handholds”.
It was some sort of way to define climbable things like pipes, walls, that might’ve required pressing buttons for each point.
A handholds.xml file is left over, but contains only test points. pic.twitter.com/LrgmXEzxme— Lucas7yoshi_RS – Lucas7yoshi, but rockstar (@Lucas7yoshi_RS) August 14, 2025
This news started a series of discussions on Reddit. Due to its larger fan base, GTA sequels have always been a bustling world, where every leak and datamine sparks intense discussion among gaming enthusiasts.
You may also like to read: GTA 6 Age Verification: What Gamers Need to Know
What was the Scrapped Feature in GTA 5?
According to some previous leaks, it was a climbing system called “Handholds.” With this feature, instead of just jumping over low walls or using ladders, players would have been able to climb up pipes, scale walls, and slide up other objects by pressing buttons at the right time.
One user on Reddit shared a post stating, “Scrapped GTA 5 climbing feature found.” He affirmed that “‘It would be a very fun feature if this were put into GTA 6.”
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Grand Theft Auto 6 is officially expected to be launched on May 26, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Community’s Reaction
Just over a week ago, a prominent dataminer disclosed evidence of a scrapped climbing mechanic from GTA 5. This feature could address long-standing complaints about the series’ parkour system.
One user comments under the post, saying, “I’m imagining driving down a street in GTA Online just for some dude clinging to the side of a building to start throwing sticky bombs down onto the street below.”
Another user writes: “I hope parkour will be around GTA 4 level in GTA VI, cuz in GTA 5 there was barely parkour with them always using the same animations.”
While it is not officially confirmed, some rumors suggest that GTA 6 will be the last GTA game. The reason behind it could be for a significant period due to the long development cycles and high costs associated with modern AAA games.
Fans are excited about such a scrapped feature from GTA 5, now hoping that it will be included in GTA 6.
Why are fans so excited?
Many gaming enthusiasts felt that GTA 5’s movement was a downgrade from the previous game, GTA 4, as many said that it had better climbing skills. This “Handholds” system would have allowed for more creative exploration, like climbing buildings to get a better view during a mission or to escape the police.
But ahead of GTA 6’s launch, many fans think that this scrapped feature would be a perfect fit for GTA 6’s expansive, Florida-inspired open world of the fictional state of Leonida. Another user writes that “It def will. It could be the last GTA game for a lifetime. They’re gonna go all out.”
Why was it removed from GTA 5?
The developers at Rockstar Games often test ideas that do not make the final cut or are removed during the final launch. This feature was likely left out due to time constraints. Another reason was that the team decided to focus on other parts of the game, like online multiplayer mode.
Not only this, GTA 5 had numerous gameplay features and mechanics that were scrapped during development. Most of them were interactive or “traversal-related” elements, which were similar to the cut climbing system.
For example, GTA 5 was expected to receive a body modification system, which was a planned feature for players that allowed them to alter their characters’ physiques through weightlifting at gyms. Also, based on their eating habits, characters can turn into fat, skinny, or muscular avatars.
Will it be in GTA 6?
Rockstar is yet to confirm is this feature will be included in Grand Theft Auto VI. Whether players will see this feature in GTA 6 or not, only time will tell.
In short, fans found a previous climbing feature from GTA 5 exciting, and they believe that Rockstar will include as many cool new features as possible to make it amazing. According to the latest report, the game is also expected to see age checks for GTA Online and possibly GTA 6.
