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No—the free Rockstar Games Launcher offer has ended. Rockstar gave away the classic PC version of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas during the launcher’s 2019 launch promotion, but the offer was limited-time and required users to download the launcher by October 8, 2019. Installing the launcher today does not create a free entitlement.
What happened to the free San Andreas offer?
Rockstar introduced the Rockstar Games Launcher in 2019 and offered the classic PC version of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas at no cost for a limited time. Rockstar later specified that players had to download the launcher by Tuesday, October 8, 2019 to receive the game. The promotion was not indefinite, even though some older pages and posts omit its closing date.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas ( Xbox 360 ) | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Official Strategy Guide | $27.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - PlayStation 2 | $39.67 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Grand Theft Auto San Andreas | $31.86 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Grand Theft Auto The Trilogy Definitive Edition - Nintendo Switch | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Players who claimed the game during the promotion were told it would be permanently added to their Rockstar Games/Social Club library. That entitlement may still be available when they sign in to the same account, but new users cannot claim it through the expired offer. Rockstar’s original announcement described the giveaway as limited-time.
Which version was free?
The 2019 giveaway was the original, or classic, PC release—not Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition. The remastered version launched separately in 2021 as part of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition.
#1 Best Overall
- Classic Open-World Adventure: Experience the iconic story of Carl Johnson as he returns to Los Santos, navigating through gang warfare, corruption, and family drama in this legendary action-adventure game set in early 1990s California
- Massive Explorable Territory: Roam freely across three distinct cities and vast countryside areas, featuring diverse landscapes from urban streets to rural farmlands, deserts, and mountain ranges with endless opportunities for exploration
- Enhanced Xbox 360 Performance: Enjoy improved graphics, smoother gameplay, and enhanced visual details optimized for Xbox 360 hardware, bringing the sprawling world of San Andreas to life with better rendering and performance
- Extensive Customization Options: Personalize your character's appearance with numerous clothing options, hairstyles, and tattoos while also customizing vehicles and building CJ's skills through various activities including gym workouts and driving challenges
- Diverse Gameplay Activities: Engage in a wide variety of missions and side activities including street racing, casino games, property acquisition, gang territory control, and numerous mini-games that provide hours of entertainment beyond the main storyline
These are separate PC products with different store descriptions, system requirements and release dates. The classic version has the original presentation and is not the same release as the later remaster.
What does San Andreas cost now?
Rockstar’s current store listings show two relevant trilogy products. Prices below are the listed US prices and can vary by region, taxes or later store changes.
| Product | What it includes | Listed price |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy | The original PC versions of GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas | $29.99 |
| Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition | Remastered versions of all three games, including San Andreas | $59.99 |
Therefore, the accurate current answer is that the classic trilogy is a paid $29.99 product on Rockstar’s store, while the remastered San Andreas is included in the separate $59.99 Definitive Edition trilogy.
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- Open the Rockstar Games Launcher.
- Sign in with the Rockstar account used during the 2019 promotion.
- Open Games and search your library for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
If the game is absent, installing or reinstalling the launcher will not create the expired entitlement. Also make sure you are using the original account; a different Rockstar account will not display purchases or promotional claims attached to another account.
Rank #3
- Five years ago Carl Johnson escaped from the pressures of life in Los Santos, San Andreas... a city tearing itself apart with gang trouble, drugs and corruption. Where filmstars and millionaires do their best to avoid the dealers and gangbangers.
- Now, it's the early 90s. Carl's got to go home. His mother has been murdered, his family has fallen apart and his childhood friends are all heading towards disaster.
- On his return to the neighborhood, a couple of corrupt cops frame him for homicide. CJ is forced on a journey that takes him across the entire state of San Andreas, to save his family and to take control of the streets.
What if the old claim screen shows an error?
Rockstar documents messages such as “This feature is not currently available” in connection with the launcher’s Store Menu availability. If the launcher does not show Store Menu, see Rockstar’s support article on the missing Store Menu. That troubleshooting information does not restore eligibility for the 2019 giveaway.
For an already-owned installation, Rockstar’s current file-repair path is:
Rank #4
- Drive through the largest GTA environment ever -- The game has three cities players can explore, for a gaming area 5 times larger than Vice City
- Recruit new characters into a street gang and take over by leading drive-by shootings against rivals Steal all-new vehicles, including bicycles
- Improved fighting elements -- smoother hand-to-hand combat, plus the ability to hold a weapon in each hand
- New graphics elements as cars get dirty and even rust, the longer you drive them
- Advanced role-playing elements -- Unlike previous GTA characters, Carl can swim and he needs to eat to survive
- Open Rockstar Games Launcher.
- Select Settings.
- Under My installed games, select the game.
- Choose Verify Integrity under Verify game file integrity.
If an owned game will not launch, Rockstar recommends enabling cloud saves, then selecting Settings → Account information → Delete local profile → Delete → Confirm. Sign in again afterward. This resets automatic sign-in; it does not remove the account’s entitlement. Follow Rockstar’s launch troubleshooting steps if the problem continues.
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Classic PC version: current requirements
Rockstar’s current support information for the classic PC version lists these requirements:
Best Value
- Grand Theft Auto III: It all starts in Liberty City. With the revolutionary freedom to go anywhere and jack anyone, Grand Theft Auto III puts the center of the criminal underworld at your fingertips, if you have enough guts to take it.
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City: Welcome to the 1980s. From the decade of big hair and pastel suits comes the story of one man's rise to the top of the criminal pile.
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas: Five years ago, Carl ‘CJ’ Johnson escaped the haze of Los Santos, San Andreas...a city tearing itself apart with gang trouble, drugs, and corruption.
- Operating system: Windows 10 64-bit
- Memory: 256 MB minimum
- Graphics: 64 MB DirectX 9-compatible graphics card, GeForce 3 or better
- Storage: 4.7 GB
- Internet: required for activation and periodic entitlement verification
- Account: Rockstar Games account required
The launcher itself also requires Windows 10 64-bit and an internet connection for account sign-in and game activation. Rockstar notes that platform components such as DirectX, Chromium, Visual C++ and authentication software may be installed or required. See the official San Andreas requirements and launcher requirements for the current details.
Common misconceptions
“Downloading the launcher makes San Andreas free.”
That was true only during the 2019 launch promotion. It is not a current offer.
“The giveaway included the Definitive Edition.”
No. The giveaway was for the classic PC version. The Definitive Edition is a separate 2021 remastered product.
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Reinstallation can address software problems, but Rockstar does not say it creates eligibility for an expired promotion. Check the correct account’s Games library instead.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
