5 reasons why GTA San Andreas should get a direct sequel

GTA San Andreas has a lot to do with Grand Theft Auto being somewhat of a household name today. Although GTA 5 has bested it in terms of sales by a mile, it cannot be denied that the near-two-decade-old title is still quite popular among gamers. Its story, characters, as well as features are all some of the best we've ever seen in this franchise.

In fact, Rockstar Games might still be able to extract another worthwhile experience from the state of San Andreas and some of its iconic residents. So, let's take a look at five reasons why GTA San Andreas should get a direct sequel.

Note - A direct sequel to GTA San Andreas hasn't been confirmed yet. This article is subjective and only reflects the writer's opinions.

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Here are 5 reasons why GTA San Andreas should get a direct sequel

1) Would be interesting the follow-up on the original's aftermath

Grand Theft Auto San Andreas' plot ended with a victory for our protagonist, Carl "CJ" Johnson, and the supporting cast over their worst adversaries. However, the city of Los Santos was in utter chaos during the final moments.

The 2004 title does offer free-roam gameplay after its campaign concludes, but it would be a lot more interesting to witness the aftermath in a well-written, Rockstar Games-style narrative.

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2) Fans would love to see more of CJ

CJ is one of the most popular video game characters ever (Image via YouTube/GTA Series Videos)

CJ is the best of all GTA protagonists for many fans and it is hard to imagine a direct sequel to GTA San Andreas without him. He was a well-written, charismatic character in the original game and has remained relevant over the years through his iconic dialogues, even outside the gaming community.

Needless to say, fans would love to see CJ in action once again after so many years. His antics could easily make a direct sequel worth the time and would add to his legacy as well.

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3) Las Venturas and San Fierro would get more attention

Besides Los Santos, Las Venturas (based on Las Vegas) and San Fierro (based on San Francisco) are two other major cities in GTA San Andreas' map. Players spend some time in both these locations during the original's campaign and often look back at them in a positive light.

Sadly, these locations are yet to appear in the series again. GTA 5 only brought back Los Santos and GTA 6 is also heading back to Vice City, but a direct sequel to San Andreas would direct attention to these underutilized, albeit beloved Grand Theft Auto cities.

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4) Perfect filler between GTA 6 and 7

GTA San Andreas' portential sequel should come after GTA 6 (Image via Rockstar Games)

GTA 6's development has taken a really long time and the game's release is still quite far away as of this writing. This isn't really surprising as developing AAA video games is a lengthy process in the modern age, which is why a potential GTA 7 shouldn't be anywhere near.

If that turns out to be the case, there could be a point in the future when fans grow bored of GTA 6, just as many have with GTA 5 and Online. In that period, a direct sequel to one of the best Grand Theft Auto games would be very refreshing and a treat for long-term fans.

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5) Gateway for new fans into the 3D Universe

The most beloved titles in the series, like Grand Theft Auto 3, Vice City, and San Andreas, are set in what is called the 3D Universe. Games since Grand Theft Auto 4 have taken place in the HD Universe, but a direct sequel to GTA San Andreas would mean a resurrection of the former.

While experiencing the 3D Universe again would be extremely fun for long-term fans, it might also intrigue those who have never played older GTA titles, motivating them to try out classic entries in preparation for a new Grand Theft Auto game in the process.