# openSA: reimplementing the GTA San Andreas runtime

> openSA is an early C++ reimplementation of the GTA San Andreas runtime built on librw. It parses original IMG, IDE, IPL, model and texture data, and supplies viewers for streaming world geometry. The author documents comparisons with the owned 1.0 US executable while noting that the result is not yet a playable game.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: Game
- Category: Independent reconstruction cases
- Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
- Sources reviewed: 2026-11-06
- Added to the catalog: 2026-11-08
- Original resource: <https://github.com/LakoMoor/openSA>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/LakoMoor/openSA/blob/4ec5242c8cbdb628566ea6459d2658b4b40c0d3f/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/opensa-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/opensa-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/opensa-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** A user-owned copy of GTA San Andreas is required; viewers read its data/ and models/ folders.
- **Limits:** The project is at an early stage and remains short of a playable game.
- **License:** MIT license.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/LakoMoor/openSA/blob/4ec5242c8cbdb628566ea6459d2658b4b40c0d3f/README.md>

## More in Games

- [OpenSAGE: rebuilding the SAGE engine for Command & Conquer: Generals](https://awesomerea.org/resources/opensage-engine-case/index.md) · Case study
- [OpenSC2K: recreating SimCity 2000 in Rust and Godot](https://awesomerea.org/resources/opensc2k-case/index.md) · Case study
- [OpenSC4: an early open-source reimplementation of SimCity 4](https://awesomerea.org/resources/opensc4-simcity-4-reimplementation-case/index.md) · Case study
- [OpenScreamer: reconstructing Screamer and Screamer 2](https://awesomerea.org/resources/openscreamer-case/index.md) · Case study
- [OpenSE4: reimplementing the Space Empires IV Deluxe engine](https://awesomerea.org/resources/opense4-case/index.md) · Case study
- [OpenSHC: reimplementation of Stronghold Crusader](https://awesomerea.org/resources/openshc/index.md) · Case study

## About this entry

The description was reviewed against primary sources.
Original editorial content: MIT. Linked projects, papers and assets retain their own rights and licenses.
