What it is
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is Rockstar North’s sprawling 2004 open-world crime drama, set in a fictionalised version of California in 1992. It combines shooting, driving, flying, gang warfare, role-playing systems and a remarkably broad range of side activities in one of the largest console worlds of its era. The US launch was on 26 October 2004, while the UK and wider European release followed on Friday, 29 October 2004.
The original game remains a substantial single-player adventure, though the version you buy today may differ considerably from the PlayStation 2, Xbox or PC release. Current console buyers are generally looking at the 2021 Definitive Edition, while the standalone mobile edition remains available for £6.99.
- UK release
- Friday, 29 October 2004
- Platforms
- Original: PS2, Xbox and PC. Later releases include PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, iOS and Android
- Developer
- Rockstar North
- Publisher
- Rockstar Games, a Take-Two Interactive label
- UK price
- £54.99 for The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition; £6.99 for the standalone mobile edition
- PEGI
- 18 — bad language and violence
- Genre
- Action-adventure, open-world
- Game Pass/PS Plus
- Not listed in the current UK catalogues; the trilogy is included with GTA+
- Online mode
- No — no online multiplayer; the Definitive Edition is single-player
- Definitive Edition
- Adapted for modern platforms by Grove Street Games using Unreal Engine
Story and setting
You play as Carl “CJ” Johnson, who returns to Los Santos after five years away in Liberty City following the murder of his mother. His family has fallen apart, the Grove Street Families have lost control of their neighbourhood and two corrupt police officers frame him for homicide. CJ is drawn into a journey across the entire state of San Andreas to protect his family and rebuild his gang’s influence.
San Andreas is divided between three major cities and the countryside around them. Los Santos takes inspiration from Los Angeles, San Fierro from San Francisco and Las Venturas from Las Vegas, with deserts, forests, mountains, small towns and military areas linking them together. The story moves well beyond its opening gang conflict, covering corruption, organised crime, rural communities, casinos and the changing culture of early-1990s America.
How it plays
This is an open-world third-person action game built around missions, exploration and improvisation. CJ can steal and customise vehicles, use firearms and melee weapons, swim, fly aircraft, ride bikes and take part in car races. Missions range from gang shoot-outs and vehicle chases to robberies, lowrider competitions, driving school tests, countryside work and large-scale set pieces.
San Andreas also gives CJ progression systems that were unusual for the series in 2004. Eating and exercising affect his weight and muscle, repeated use improves weapon and vehicle skills, and clothes, haircuts and tattoos alter his appearance. You can buy properties, recruit gang members, capture territory and tackle side work such as taxi driving, firefighting, ambulance missions, burglary and vigilante jobs. The result is less focused than later GTA games, but also more willing to let you spend an afternoon doing almost anything except the next story mission.
Platforms, editions and UK price
The original release arrived on PlayStation 2 in the UK on 29 October 2004, followed by Xbox and PC versions on 10 June 2005. It was later ported to Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, iOS and Android, among other formats. The modern Definitive Edition is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and PC, with San Andreas included alongside GTA III and Vice City.
As checked on 1 October 2026, the UK list price for the Definitive Edition trilogy is £54.99 on the Xbox and PlayStation stores. The standalone mobile version costs £6.99 on both the UK App Store and Google Play. The old Xbox and Xbox 360 editions are legacy releases rather than current pre-order products, so physical prices depend on second-hand stock. The Definitive Edition is rated PEGI 18 for bad language and violence. It is not listed in the current UK Game Pass or PlayStation Plus catalogues, although the trilogy is included with GTA+ on PlayStation.
What changed since launch
There was no modern-style story DLC programme for San Andreas, and the game has never gained a full online equivalent to GTA Online. Later releases instead focused on ports, technical upgrades and additional platform features. The 2014 Xbox 360 version added 720p output, an increased draw distance and achievements, but later digital editions also lost some licensed radio tracks because of music-rights issues.
The 2021 Definitive Edition introduced higher-resolution textures, enhanced lighting and weather, increased draw distances, Grand Theft Auto V-style controls and targeting, and platform features such as achievements or trophies. It launched in a rough state, but Rockstar has since issued substantial patches. The November 2024 update improved stability and performance, fixed mission, collision, texture and audio problems, and added Classic Lighting on supported platforms to restore more of the original atmosphere. The PC Steam edition also received a later fix for a Steam Deck OLED launch problem.
Reception and whether it is worth buying
The original release was received extremely well. GameSpot awarded it 9.6 out of 10, praising the variety, writing, voice cast and sheer amount of content while noting an unstable frame rate, weak gang artificial intelligence and an uneven soundtrack. Its reputation has endured because the world still feels unusually broad and reactive, even when individual missions can be awkward or frustrating.
For a first playthrough, the original PC or console versions preserve the game’s original character but can be awkward to source and use on modern hardware. The Definitive Edition is easier to buy and has better controls, visuals and convenience features, but it remains a revision of an old game rather than a ground-up remake. It is still a strong choice for anyone who wants CJ’s story and the freedom of San Andreas, provided you are comfortable with dated mission design and some uneven remaster work.
Not yet confirmed
- Rockstar has not announced further story DLC, a standalone modern-console release of the original 2004 build outside The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, or a new multiplayer component for San Andreas.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas: your questions
When was GTA San Andreas released in the UK?
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was released in the UK on Friday, 29 October 2004. The North American release came three days earlier, on 26 October.
Is GTA San Andreas on Xbox?
Yes. The original game was released on Xbox, and later versions appeared on Xbox 360. The current Xbox option is The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Does GTA San Andreas have online multiplayer?
No. San Andreas is a single-player game and has no online multiplayer mode. Some older console versions included limited local multiplayer activities, but there is no GTA Online-style component.
What is the PEGI rating for GTA San Andreas?
The UK release is PEGI 18 for bad language and violence.
Is GTA San Andreas included with Game Pass or PS Plus?
It is not listed in the current UK Game Pass or PlayStation Plus catalogues. The PS4 and PS5 trilogy bundle is included with GTA+, which is a separate subscription.
