PS Plus subscribers only have one month left to experience the GTA remastered classic before it leaves the service.
Sony has once again announced a major shakeup to its PlayStation Plus Extra catalog. Come November 18, 18 titles (incidentally fitting for the date) will be bidding farewell to the subscription service, with one noteworthy departure capturing our attention: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas — The Definitive Edition.
This remastered version of the beloved 2004 classic has been available on PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium since June, offering subscribers a chance to revisit (or experience for the first time) the streets of Los Santos, San Fierro, and Las Venturas. As the old saying goes, all good things must come to an end — even when we don't want them to.
The removal of San Andreas from PS Plus follows a pattern we've seen with other GTA titles on the service. Each GTA game seems to enjoy a brief, six-month stint in the spotlight before vanishing from the platform.
This predictable cycle has led some fans to speculate about what might fill the Rockstar void in the PS Plus lineup. Could we possibly be hearing some surprise announcement of a GTA IV remaster on the horizon? Is that asking for too much in 2024? More realistically, Rockstar will likely cycle through other games from the 3D era on repeat.
While the departure of San Andreas might not be celebrated by everyone, its time on PS Plus hasn't exactly been a carnival. The Definitive Edition, which is part of the larger GTA: The Trilogy remaster, received a lukewarm reception upon its initial release in 2021. Critics and fans alike bemoaned various issues, from graphical glitches to gameplay quirks that seemed to tarnish the rosy memories of the original.
However, for those who managed to look past these flaws, The Definitive Edition of San Andreas still offered an incredible journey into gaming history. As arguably the crown jewel of GTA's 3D era, it provided players with a massive, immersive world filled with memorable characters, outrageous missions, and the freedom to cause mayhem on a ridiculous scale.
To make things worse, the removal of San Andreas isn't happening in isolation. It's part of a larger exodus that includes another Rockstar heavyweight title: Red Dead Redemption 2. This mass departure of Rockstar titles has led to all kinds of theories about the motivations behind these removals.
Some industry insiders suggest it could be a strategic move ahead of the holiday shopping season, with publishers hoping to boost direct sales during Black Friday and beyond. That said, while conspiracy theories are fun, it's much more likely that these contracts just have expiration dates baked in from day one.
For PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers, the clock is now ticking. With just over a month left to experience these soon-to-be-departing titles, it's the perfect time to dive into any games you might have been putting off. It doesn't matter if you're looking to relive the glory days of Grove Street or a curious newcomer wondering what all the fuss is about; now's your chance to experience a piece of gaming history (albeit not at its best form) before it rides off into the sunset.
