GTA 5 'explosive' San Andreas expansion gets first trailer

Regarded as one of the best in the Rockstar Game series, San Andreas is coming back in GTA V!

First released in 2004 for the PlayStation 2, set in 1992, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas tells the tale of CJ returning to his home of Los Santos to attend his mother's funeral. However, as much as things change, things stay the same, CJ is soon lured back into the life of gangster crime.

At the time, GTA: San Andreas was not only the best-looking game in the series to date, but it was also the most ambitious and largest in almost every way. In many ways, you could argue that GTA: San Andreas played a lot like an RPG with players living life through CJ partaking in a variety of activities such as going to the gym, gambling, having flying lessons and so much more.

So naturally with the game being so beloved by fans, we’re always looking for any opportunity to return to the world of San Andreas and in the latest GTA Online update for GTA V, that’s what we’re going to get, kind of. Sure, there were elements of San Andreas in the GTA V single-player campaign, but I think most of us can agree that it wasn't quite the same.

According to the press release provided by Rockstar Games, the latest big update for GTA Online, San Andreas Mercenaries promises players the biggest, most high-risk heist yet, and that’s saying something with this series.

In San Andreas Mercenaries you will gain revenge on Merryweather Security by joining: “up with expert pilot and skilled merc Charlie Reed to lead his new outfit — the Los Santos Angels — on a series of dangerous counter-operations to disarm and disrupt the ruthless forces of Merryweather Security, with the chance for you and your friends to earn your own fortunes along the way.”

Described as an “action-packed update”, players will also “take flight alongside a team of elite pilots and ex-military operators to do battle against the monolithic forces of San Andreas’ largest private military”. Thankfully, you and your team will acquire the services of “expert aircraft mechanic, Charlie Reed to ensure that you’ll bring down Merryweather Security once and for all, and make a lot of money while doing so.

GTA Online: San Andreas Mercenaries arrives on Tuesday, 13 June 2023 for PC, PlayStation and Xbox.

In related news, while we patiently await the arrival of GTA VI, an industry analyst predicts that Rockstar’s next big game is set to make a whopping $1 billion within its first week of launch.