Former Rockstar Dev Reveals San Andreas Secret On Game’s Anniversary

As a devoted gaming enthusiast and avid follower of Rockstar’s illustrious history, I can confidently say that Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas holds a special place in my heart. The game, now celebrating its 20th anniversary, is a testament to the power of storytelling, immersive environments, and open-world freedom that defined a generation.

On the 20th anniversary of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, a past Rockstar developer, Obbe Vermeij, who remains active in the industry today, has shared an intriguing detail about the game. Known for his knowledgeable insights and behind-the-scenes glimpses on social media regarding many Grand Theft Auto productions, he has captured the attention of fans worldwide.

His latest factoid about San Andreas is pretty interesting, and it comes as the game celebrates a major milestone.

20 Years as the GOAT

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is widely recognized as one of the greatest video games ever made. This captivating, extensive journey took players through a collection of cities known as ‘San Andreas.’ For many, it was a game that symbolized an era, and for Rockstar Games, it represented a phenomenal achievement that set the bar high for future projects.

Lately, Obbe Vermeij, a key figure in the creation of GTA 3, Vice City, San Andreas, and IV, shared his thoughts on the past two decades since the release of San Andreas via social media.

The initial idea was for the game’s map to be divided into three distinct sections, accessible through a transportation system consisting of trains and planes within cities. This design would help the team overcome ‘strict’ memory limitations, and it would allow for a more distinct representation of each city by using unique assets.

Ultimately, a key decision made during a meeting at Rockstar North significantly altered the course of events, opting for a massive, intricate map that presented greater development challenges but offered a far more striking outcome in the end.

20 years back, we introduced Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Initially, our design concept involved each of the game’s cities being on distinct maps, with players moving between them via trains and aircraft. This approach was also used in GTA 1 and 2. However, memory constraints on the PS2 forced us to make some adjustments.
— Obbe Vermeij (@ObbeVermeij) October 25, 2024

Later, Vermeij reflected on the thrill of late-night game releases and marveled at the immense popularity of San Andreas, even before online platforms and social media could create widespread excitement about games.

In those days, we might find only a few brief television advertisements, a couple of trailers, and possibly an article or two in a magazine or one of the limited number of online platforms available.

Back in the day, the internet wasn’t very reliable, and gamers had limited information about the game, mainly just a few trailers.
On a rather damp evening, I visited the largest shop close to the North offices, specifically HMV located on Princess Street in Edinburgh. Despite the rain, there was quite a queue that wound its way throughout the store and extended onto the street itself.
It was astonishing to witness such enthusiasm as everyone rushed home to keep playing the game until dawn.

Back in 2004, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was the first video game I played on its release day, and since then, I’ve invested countless hours into it. This game is truly exceptional, and it holds a special spot in my heart that will never fade away.

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