In September 2023, the GTA: SAMP's official website permanently shut down after 17 years of operation. There were immediate claims that this was the end for the long-loved multiplayer mod, but rumors of SAMPs death, as it turns out, have been greatly exaggerated.

While it's true that SAMP isn't as popular as it once was, it still houses a passionate and determined community of roleplayers and modders. One example of this is the team at open.mp, who have been working on their own open-source launcher for a while. They have graciously spun up a new website for SAMP, creating a trusted place to download the client with its server browser intact.

In the short term, then, you can download the SAMP client from sa-mp.mp. In the future, you may be better off replacing the SAMP client with the open multiplayer launcher, which is at version 0.0.1 at the time of writing. The truth is that both the SAMP client and server had not been actively developed for years before the website was shut down. The open multiplayer client is frequently updated, supporting both open multiplayer and legacy SAMP servers.

As the server side of open multiplayer matures, we will likely see San Andreas servers with a SAMP back-end gradually phased out. But for now, SAMP is alive and well. In fact, we encourage you to start your own server and keep it going.

Customizable key binds are important in any game, but they're particularly important in SAMP. There are actions you may need to perform or type quickly that do not have default keys, and manually typing out commands is slow and tedious, taking you out of the roleplay experience. All of this means that rebinding your keys in SAMP should be a top priority.

How to change SAMP key binds

There are two main ways to change your SAMP key binds: the SAMP KeyBinder program and AutoHotkey. Both have advantages, with KeyBinder being simpler and AutoHotkey being more customizable. We'll show you how to modify your key binds using both.

Using SAMP KeyBinder

SAMP KeyBinder couldn't be much easier to use. Download it from GTA Garage and unzip it. Open the folder and run 'Keybinder v2.0.exe' to start the program.

In the "Keys" column, type the key or command you want to be activated. Click on the HotKey column and press the key you want it to be assigned to once. If you'd like to delete a Hotkey, make sure you press the "Disable binds button". Otherwise, the key bind will just be replaced by your backspace key.

In our testing, we needed to go to "Settings > Send Keys to > Any window" to get the key binds to work in SAMP.

Using AutoHotkey

AutoHotkey is a hugely popular macro creation and hotkey program that can also be used for SAMP. It uses the .ahk scripting format to determine which keys should be assigned to which actions, when they should and shouldn't run, etc. This makes it more complicated to set up, but with the help of some examples, it shouldn't be too difficult to get your head around.

After installing AutoHotkey, you can create a script by right-clicking in any folder and selecting "New > AutoHotkey Script".

Enter a name for the script, for example, "SAMP keybinds", and press "Create".

Right-click the script again and choose the "Edit" option, and then open it with Notepad. At this point, you'll have a blank notepad file with nothing in it. We can add our hotkeys to this document. You can find a list of keys to use with AutoHotkey here.

Adding a hotkey that types a command

You can use SendInput to have AutoHotkey type a command in the SAMP chat and send it. The syntax for this is:

Key:: 
{
Send "t/command{Enter}"
}
 

For example, we could bind the /help command to numpad 0 using:

Numpad0:: 
{
SendInput "t/help{Enter}"
}

You can also create a script that does not automatically press enter after you type your command. This is useful if you're trying to talk in RP using the /me command, for example:

Ctrl & M:: 
{
SendInput "t/me"
}

Making text input faster

If you find that AutoHotkey types your text too slowly, particularly for longer strings of text, you can use the clipboard to paste the text instead:

Numpad0::
{
clipboard =
clipboard = t/command
clipwait, 2
send ^v {Enter}
return
}

So, what's going on here? First, we're clearing the clipboard with clipboard =. Then we add t/command to the clipboard, wait for it to update, and send Ctrl + V  (paste), followed by the enter key. The script then returns to the beginning.

Adding a hotkey that presses another key

What if we instead want to create a script that assigns one key or a combination of keys to another? As it turns out, that's even easier:

OriginalKey::NewKey

For example, for whatever reason we want to make Numpad 0 press the Numpad 1 key:

Numpad0::Numpad1

Or if we want Ctrl + P to enter the F key:

Ctrl & P::F

Closing words

There are several other ways to rebind keys in SAMP that might be worth investigating. Microsoft's PowerToys, for example, lets you remap keys to other keys or shortcuts. The Ultimate SAMP KeyBinder is another option, but as our VirusTotal scan came back with 7/71 detections, we are hesitant to recommend it even if these are likely false positives.

The bottom line is that if you need a simple key rebinder and macro program, SAMP KeyBinder does an excellent job with minimal fuss. However, investing the time to learn AutoHotkey will likely pay off, as in the future you can tap into its more advanced functionality and use custom scripts to bind keys directly to in-game functions.

GTA: San Andreas is an old game, and while it has a certain timeless look, there are some areas where it really shows its age. One of those is in its lighting, with words like "SSAO" and "normal mapping" just a blip on the horizon at the time of its release. Thankfully, tools like the ENBSeries by Boris Voronstov can inject these modern techniques into old games, including SAMP.

As ENB is quite customizable, this blog will round up some of the best community SAMP ENBseries presets across different performance categories.

SAMP ENBs for high to mid-range PCs

If you have a computer that can already run SAMP very well, then you likely have the performance overhead to run ENB presets that will offer drastic visual improvements.

SA_DirectX

SA_DirectX is the most prolific San Andreas ENB. Developer Makarus has (allegedly) programmed his own shaders for ENB that elevate the visual experience more than any other preset out there. SA_DirectX 2.0 is free, while SA _DirectX 3.0 is currently in beta and requires a subscription to Makarus' Patreon to access.

The results, however, are stunning, with V3 almost elevating the game to almost the level of GTA V.

Of course, you should expect a major performance hit from implementing all of these new modern techniques in a non-native way.

MMGE 3

MartyMcFly is a prolific graphics modder who has contributed to ReShade and worked with Nvidia to offer post-process raytracing in some titles. MMGE 3 is his ENB series present for SAMP/ GTA: SA.

According to the modder, he rewrote every aspect of ENBSeries to maximize the visual experience, and the results are impressive. However, this mod will hit your performance hard. We mostly intended it for screenshots and will tank your framerate for all but the most powerful of PCs.

V Graphics

As you might have gathered, V Graphics is a SAMP ENB preset that makes GTA: San Andreas look more like GTA V. And, admittedly, it does a pretty good job of it. While of course, it's not at the same level of graphical fidelity, the graphics are still substantially improved and emulate the more natural tones of GTA V.

SAMP ENBs for low-end PCs

If high fps is your priority or you don't want to stray too far from the original feel of the game, these low-end SAMP ENB presets could be for you.

Ultimate Graphics Mod 3.0

Ultimate Graphics Mod adds a new visual flair and some modern techniques to GTA:SA while only costing 5-10fps. Though clearly not on the same level as the best presets, it does offer improved visuals while keeping the original look and feel of the game.

V Graphics for Low-End PC v2

Yep, V Graphics is pretty much what it says on the tin. A style reminiscent of GTA V, without the drastic hit to performance. As you would expect, it doesn't have all the shiny performance features of the original V graphics ENB, but it offers some graphical improvements with a minimal impact on performance.

Clean Shader FX

If you are fed up with the over-saturated, contrasty look of many ENBs, Clean Shader FX is an excellent choice. It delivers realistic tones and improved shading while avoiding aggressive shadow pop-in. While it's unlikely to blow anybody away, its understated style adds a degree of realism and means that it will never impede gameplay.

Reflection ENB

Focusing on a key graphical element can be a great way to improve the look of your game without your computer setting on fire. In SAMP, reflections have a large impact due to the prevalence of cars, rainy streets, oceans, and neon signs. Reflection ENB focuses mainly on improving these elements rather than trying to completely overhaul the game's graphics.

Project ENB SA_Profesia

SA_Profesia has excellent reflections while bringing a slightly more colorful, punchy style to the game.  It avoids the more intensive (and sometimes offensive) effects such as SSAO, bloom, and motion blur, focusing on delivering a highly playable experience.

MoonLoader is an up-and-coming mod for GTA: San Andreas that promises to be a modern, better version of the familiar CLEO. Primarily, it is designed to allow users to install Lua scripts that have been created by modders, which add new functionality to the game, including SAMP.

MoonLoader is in active development by the Russian-speaking SAMP community, and, as a result, guidance and documentation in English is sparse. We hope to remedy that today by showing you how to install and use MoonLoader SAMP.

Pre-requisites

Before we start, let's make it clear: MoonLoader only works with GTA: SA version US 1.0. If you have a different version of the game, you will have to downgrade it or download the full copy from another source.

Automatic installation

The easiest way to install MoonLoader SAMP is, unsurprisingly, using its installer. This allows you to complete the entire setup by simply following the wizard. You can download the latest installer from the GTAForums thread, or if that appears to be abandoned, the Russian blast.hk thread.

After running the installer and pressing "Next", you'll be presented with several options. We recommend installing at least the ones we have ticked below:

• ✓ ASI Loader : This is required for MoonLoader to function correctly, so make sure you tick this. For the unfamiliar, it's a .dll file that enables the loading of custom code into San Andreas.
• Useful scripts:
• ✓ Reload All: Allows you to press Ctrl + R to reload all scripts in the game. Useful for applying script changes or troubleshooting.
• ✓ Update Checker: Automatically checks for MoonLoader updates.
• ✓Auto Reboot: When a Lua script is changed, they are automatically rebooted.
• SF Integration: Provides message logging and the execution of arbitrary code via the SAMPFUNC console.
• Modules:
• MoonAdditions: Adds more than 100 scripting functions for mod developers, allowing them to more easily draw text, interact with character bones, retexture, adjust shadows, etc.
• **✓ SAMP.Lua: Adds features to make it easer to mod for SAMP. Some scripts for SAMP require this to be installed.
• Tools for developers:
• Notepad++ Extension: Adds support for Lua and MoonLoader in the Notepad++ text editing application.

All you need to do now is press "Next" twice and wait for Moonloader + its scripts to install. After installation, you will be taken to your scripts folder, where you can place any other mods you want.

Manual installation

If for whatever reason you cannot use the automatic installer, then manual installation is possible and not too difficult:

1. Download the MoonLoader archive from the GTA forums

2. Download Silent's ASI loader from GTA garage.

3. Copy the files from your Silents ASI Loader and MoonLoader zips to your GTA:SA folder.

They should go in your root folder, where your game's .exe file is. If you use Steam, this should be /SteamLibrary/Steamapps/common/Grand Theft Auto San Andreas.

4. Install any additional scripts and play the game.

Where to get MoonLoader scripts

The best place to download mods for MoonLoader is a Russian-language forum blast.hk. If you use Google Translate on the webpage, you will see three categories – Fixes, Assets, and Binders, all of which contain useful scripts.

Installing scripts is as easy as downloading them and copying them to your MoonLoader folder. They should then run automatically the next time you start SAMP.

San Andreas Multiplayer's low hardware requirements are one of the reasons it remains so popular seventeen years after its release. However, while SAMP is perhaps best enjoyed on PC, not everyone has one that they can play on or that they can use while traveling.

SAMP mobile takes advantage of the fact that many of us walk around with powerful computers in our pockets every single day: our mobile phones. You can use an Android phone to play SAMP with relative ease. All you need is a midrange phone and an internet connection.

Here's how you set up and play GTA SAMP on mobile using the SA-MP launcher app.

How to install SAMP on Android

SAMP is quite easy to install, but you will need to meet some pre-requisites:

• An Android device on version 4.4 (KitKat) and above
• Your device must support 32-bit applications. This means that the Pixel 7 line will not work
• You do not technically need the San Andreas mobile game, but we recommend that you do pay for it, as the legality of downloading San Andreas files for SAMP without owning the game is questionable at best.

Please note that we do not make the SAMP mobile app and cannot guarantee that it will work in the future, work on your phone, or be secure.

With that said, let's move on to the installation process:

1. Install the SA-MP Launcher app

The SA-MP Launcher app by Jekamant is the piece of magic that allows the multiplayer to function on mobile. You can install it from the Play Store.

2. Open SA-MP Launcher and press "Install Client"

When prompted press "Install".

3. Allow the install and choose whether to install the "Lite" or "Full" cache

The light cache will provide a slimmed-down install but won't include cutscenes or radio stations/music. We recommend downloading the full package if you can as a result. Once you have chosen, press "Update client" in the main app screen and then hit "Yes".

4. Wait for the download to finish and then choose "Auto"

5. Open the server list and connect to a server to play

Note that in our testing the app may crash if you do not allow microphone access for the session.

Play SAMP on mobile by streaming from your PC

If you do have a perfectly functional PC and want to play that version of SAMP in more places, then you're in luck. These days there are multiple programs that will allow you to run SAMP on your PC while streaming the video and controls to your mobile device. This is useful if your phone does not have very capable hardware or is not compatible with SAMP, because all smartphones can stream video and video playback is not as hardware intensive as the real thing.

Steam Link

Steam Link is by far the easiest PC to mobile game streaming tool to set up and the good news is that it works both when you're at home and when you're away. It also supports touchscreen gamepad controls out of the box, though we would recommend using a gamepad instead because they are very finnicky for SAMP. This is how you get it working:

1. Open Steam to your library page on your PC

If you haven't already, install SAMP on your PC and add it to your Steam library as a non-Steam game if necessary.

2. Install the Steam Link mobile app

3. Open the app and select your PC while you are on the same network to connect

4. Enter the PIN code in your Steam client when prompted

If the prompt does not appear automatically, add the code manually in Steam>Settings>Remote Play> Pair Steam Link.

5. Start SAMP via Steam on your mobile device. It should work automatically on other networks now that you have completed the initial pairing.

Moonlight

If your desktop or laptop has an Nvidia GPU, then Moonlight will be one of your best low-latency options. It's an open-source implementation of Nvidia's GameStream protocol (used in the Nvidia Shield) that lets you stream pretty much any game to your mobile device. All you need is a controller handy. Here's how to set it up:

1. On your PC, open the GeForce Experience app (install it if you don't have it) and enable GameStream

You can find GameStream by pressing the settings cog, followed by "Shield in the sidebar" and then the GameStream toggle.

2. Install Moonlight on your iOS or Android device.

3. While connected to the same network as your PC, open the moonlight app and wait for your PC to show up. Click its name to connect.

4. Enter the pin shown on your mobile device on your PC.

6. Plug in a controller and run SAMP from your Steam library to play

If you would like to play from another network, you will need to install the Moonlight Internet Hosting Tool and run the Moonlight Internet Streaming Tester tool via your Start menu to ensure it's working.

If your PC is not already paired with moonlight, you'll need to type its IP address in the Moonlight Internet Streaming Testers success dialog and ensure your phone is not connected to the same network at that time.

If your test fails, try enabling UnPnP on your router or, if that fails, forwarding the ports listed by the test tool.

Parsec

Parsec is a proprietary software aimed at low-latency game streaming, and it does so pretty well. Using third-party apps, you can even get an on-screen controller interface.

1. Install Parsec on your PC and log in

2. Install Parsec on your mobile

3. Press "Connect" next to your computer or paste the session ID

4. Run SAMP and plug in a controller to play

5. Optional: Install and set up the GP overlay android app to use a touchscreen controller interface.

You can see a full video tutorial on GP overlay setup here.

Game stream from the cloud

The final option for those who want to play the PC version of SAMP on their mobile is cloud-based game streaming. In this setup, another company will provide the horsepower and stream the video to your device at low latency from a remote server. You will need a fast, low-latency internet connection for this.

Sadly, neither SAMP, nor San Andreas are supported on services like xCloud or GeForce Now at the time of writing. This means that if you want to stream SAMP from the cloud, you'll have to go for one of the more expensive options. ShadowPC, for example, will get you a fully functioning Windows PC in the cloud with a powerful graphics card. You can do whatever you like with this PC, including installing SAMP and playing it from your phone.
![[Pasted image 20230127083602.png]]

If you're just planning on playing SAMP occasionally, a service like Paperspace may be a better fit, allowing you pay $0.45/hr for a SAMP-capable machine.

Closing words

That rounds up just about every option you have for playing SAMP on a mobile device. We of course recommend playing via the app if you're able to for the best experience, but game streaming services are still very viable, especially with a bluetooth-enabled controller.

Quality servers can be sparse, so you may want to consider setting up your own. We'd be honored if you'd consider giving SAMP hosting a go for a fast, no-hassle hosting with no shared hardware and expert support.

Last week was an exciting time for us here at SAMPHosting. We're overjoyed to announce that our service is officially live. You can now create a high-performance SAMP server with dedicated resources in just a few minutes!

Of course, there's more work to be done yet, and we have various plans for the future. For now, though, we're going to take this opportunity to show you how to get started with SAMP hosting – whether it's for you and a few friends or a large community.

Here's quick guide to creating your first server on SAMPHosting:

1. Sign up for a SAMPHosting account

Signing up for SAMPHosting is probably a lot easier than you're used to. We only ask for an email address and password, with no email confirmation required. You can create an account here.

2. Log in to your account and press "New SAMP Server"

3. Choose your hosting plan and location

When choosing your plan, it's best to balance what you think your community needs versus the initial cost. If you're just starting out, you should know that you can upgrade at any time – so it's entirely possible to add more server resources as your SAMP community grows!

You should choose the server closest to where the bulk of your users will be located. SAMPHosting currently offers locations in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Please be aware that data center availability may fluctuate with demand.

4. Type in your server name, password, and max player count

These details are technically optional. If you do not provide this information, we'll auto-generate them for you when you press the "Create SAMP Server" button. Just be aware that it will be harder to change them later.

5. Expand the "Advanced Options" heading and fill in any details there

The advanced options section will allow you define a root password, code server password, website URL, and language.

6. Press "Create SAMP Server"

7. Wait a few minutes for your SAMP server to finish launching

8. Try your server for up to two hours and press the "pay now" link when you want to activate your subscription.

9. On the order screen, hit "Proceed To Checkout" and pay for your server

There you have it! You can start building your community and scripting your server to your heart's content. You'll see your server details in your portal to connect to through RDP, FTP, and your game client.

You'll find your personal information, Activity log, and billing info in the "Account" section.

Happy hosting from all of us at SAMPHosting! Don't be afraid to reach out to our support team if you need help.

When it comes to GTA: San Andreas online mods, there are two real options. The classic San Andreas: Multiplayer (SAMP) and Multi-theft Auto, also known as MTA. You may be wondering how they stack up to each other and which is the best fit for you.

The first thing you should know is that while both mods enable similar functionality, they're entirely separate releases.  Though San Andreas Multiplayer was released before Multi-theft Auto, it is far from a straight clone.

In fact, there are quite a few nice quality of life improvements in MTA that may be attractive to some SAMP players. First of all, it has a built-in server browser, which makes finding communities that suit you and their player counts easier. According to user reports, MTA also tends to have much better synchronization and lower latency, which can be a help during gunfights, vehicle use, and more.

Due to its open-source nature and built-in map editor, most developers also agree that MTA is easier to script for. You can also load objects directly from the server, increasing the breadth of what you can do with mods.

So, if MTA has all these nice features, why would you choose to use SAMP? The main answer is simple – due to its age and media coverage, more people know about SAMP. As a result, it tends to be easier to find populated English-speaking servers on SAMP, especially when it comes to roleplaying. On top of this, SAMPs age has given developers plenty of more time to develop mods, skins, and various other content for it.

Finally, there's hosting. As SAMP is older and traditionally more popular than MTA, it's typically far easier to find reliable, cost-efficient hosting for. There aren't as many server providers for MTA, which generally means less competition. Less competition leads to less innovation, lower standards, and a reduction in consumer choice.

Ultimately, it's up to you whether you value features or maturity/hosting stability. Just know that for now at least, SAMPhosting is primarily a place for SAMP servers. If you'd like to see more multiplayer mods supported, let us know – we're always open to new ideas so long as the demand is high enough.

GTA: Online is one of the most popular multiplayer modes in the world, drawing in millions of players with its ability to live a virtual (if not action-filled) life. Sometimes, however, it's easy to forget that the Grand Theft Auto series has a longer history with multiplayer.

While the online in GTA: IV and San Andreas' multiplayer were half-baked at launch, the modding community soon developed the latter into a fully-fledged RPG in its own right. In fact, though GTA: Online does many things right, there are still some aspects of SAMP that it's unable to capture. Here are some of the best reasons to play SAMP over GTA: Online.

Better performance

Some may see San Andreas' old-fashioned graphics as an eyesore, but for many, it's a selling point. As well as the nostalgic style, SAMP's minimum requirements are very low:

• 1 GHz Pentium III or AMD Athlon Processor
• 256 MB of RAM
• 64 MB video card
• 3.6 GB of harddrive space

If you aren't sure what all that means, suffice it to say this – any computer from the past 10 years should be able to run this game well. It also shouldn't take long to download, due to its small size, and can fit on anything but the smallest hard drives. The only requirement is that you have a Windows PC, or a Linux PC using Wine or Proton.

Fewer microtransactions

GTA: Online has become a gigantic cash cow for Rockstar. In 2020, GTA:V earned almost $1 billion in revenue as new players purchased the game and its microtransactions.

Those microtransactions, however, are too aggressive for many users' liking. It can be very slow to start building up your fortune without buying Shark Cards, which offer large amounts of money for a reasonable cost.

In contrast, San Andreas Multiplayer is more fair. Though many server hosts do ask for donations to cover costs, they typically don't give as much of an advantage. Though it varies by server, benefits are usually limited to in-game skins, minor income boosts, and other small benefits. The game isn't specifically designed to make as much money as possible and isn't typically "pay to win".

More players per server

Despite its expansive map, GTA: Online only hosts 30 players per server. This makes it feel less like a bustling metropolis and more like a countryside hike. In contrast, SAMP accepts up to 1000 players per server.

More players mean regular interactions and just the feeling of a more life-like and lived-in world.

Player-based economy

Another thing the increased player count enables is a more complex and vibrant player-driven economy. In GTA: Online, the only economy that exists is between you and Rockstar.  This is likely an intentional move to prevent the transfer of hacked or purchased and money and possibly drive people more towards microtransactions.

SAMP's economy is much more fleshed out. As well as earning cash for jobs like GTA: Online, you can trade items or cash to other players. This allows you to sell cars, houses, weapons, and more to others. You can even be elected to congress by other players, where you can make decisions that alter taxes, job payout rates, etc.

A better community

The setup of SAMP is inherently geared towards creating a more tight-knit and vibrant community than GTA: Online. GTA: Online randomly assigns player to an available server, ensuring they rarely see the same people twice and have less chance to form long-term bonds.

As SAMP's servers are hosted by the community, it doesn't have this problem. The same groups of players play together regularly, allowing sub-communities to form, gangs, and even roleplayed families. In fact, while roleplay has barely any place in GTA: Online, in SAMP it's commonplace.

Fewer hackers

If you've played GTA: Online for any period of time, you'll know that it has a serious hacker problem. Though Rockstar does have anti-cheat, and it catches many of them, plenty of others either go undetected or ruin others' experience before they're caught.

Though San Andreas: Multiplayer has hackers, server admins generally have a better handle on things. As well as good anti-cheat that's been honed over a number of years, there's the advantage of having moderators on the server who can step in as soon as undetected hacking occurs and ban the player. This is something that's just not possible on GTA: Online due to the large volume of players and lack of dedicated servers.

Which is best for you?

These are the main advantages to playing SAMP over GTA: Online, but ultimately, it comes down to what you prefer in an online multiplayer experience. If you like regular large content updates with a huge player base and good graphics, GTA: Online might be your best pick.

However, if you love player-based economies and roleplaying, more fair monetization models, and servers with large player counts, SAMP is the way to go.

While it's the English-speaking roleplaying community in SAMP wasn't what it once was, it's still far from dead. Though a couple of major servers have closed, there are still plenty of options out there – particularly if you're happy to settle for a light rather than heavy roleplay experience.

Though we haven't had the time to test every server, in our opinion these are the best SAMP roleplayer servers out there right now:

Streetz of Los Santos/ Singleplayer Roleplay

Streetz of Los Santos  (a.k.a Single Player Roleplay) returned over a year ago after a lengthy absence. With the player base of the Red County Roleplay server dwindling and Los Santos Roleplay shut down, this is your best choice for a text-heavy roleplay server.

Streetz of Los Santos is based in the world of San Andreas, but you'll hardly recognize its map in some places. The development team has done an amazing job with their custom mapping, providing a ton of new enterable buildings, landmarks, and more.

In fact, the server receives regular content updates that add new models, animations, and scripts. It includes a modern vehicle UI and phone system, limb-based damage, PvP minigames, custom weapons, a drug economy, and much more. The server also has an anti-cheat system, which is always nice to see.

Unlike some roleplaying servers, there's no application process for Streetz of Los Santos – you just sign up and play. This allows it to retain a vibrant, if not huge community, with 50-100 players typically online.

Welcome to Los Santos

Welcome to Los Santos one of the most popular servers in SAMP right now, and for good reason. It regularly has over 200 players and offers all of the features of singleplayer and more in an online environment.

Players on this server can perform jobs, purchase cars, get their pilots license, perform hits, participate in events, buy property and much much more. Though there's a bit of grind to get going and not a lot of in-game guidance, it's a ton of fun once you sink some hours in.

Welcome to Los Santos isn't a rule-heavy roleplay server, but roleplay is encouraged when interacting with others in the open world. It also has a strong, accurate anti-cheat system, which helps to keep the experience fun for everyone.

Horizon Roleplay

Love it or hate it, Horizon Roleplay is one of the biggest SAMP servers out there right now, with over 150 players routinely online and up to 300 at peak times.  Despite the name, it should be considered more of a "light" roleplay server, centering a giant turf war between upwards of 25 gangs. You and your gang will try to take over various points in the city, all the while participating in events and minigames, performing jobs, purchasing housing and vehicles, and more.

Like Streetz of Los Santos, Horizon doesn't require an application to play. It has a vibrant Discord community, despite a few trolls, and is even more fun once you get a group of friends together.

Valrise Roleplay

Valrise Roleplay is another light roleplay server that still offers a lot of value to those just starting to dip their toes into RP. On the server, you can join criminal or legal groups, produce drugs and trade weapons, own vehicles and much more.

Like the others mentioned in this list, Valrise has no application process.  It also has stable scripts and a vibrant community of 100-150 players. The primary focus on Valrise is creating a fun environment rather than one with strict rules on RP, which makes it a relatively unintimidating place.

While this can lead to some roleplay that isn't entirely realistic, often those interactions will leave you with a giggle or a smile on your face.

Lawless Roleplay

Lawless Roleplay is one of the oldest servers around, at 8-years-old. Despite this, though, it's updated regularly and consistently, with a ton of different scripts, events, and features.

It has a turf system, for example, alongside drug production, banking, property/business/car ownership, jobs, and much more. Again, it's a light roleplay server, which is good for beginners and has a smaller community of 50-150 players depending on the time of day. Even so, many swear by Lawless, making it their server of choice for many years.

The next big roleplay server – yours?

As you can probably tell, there's still plenty of room for new roleplay servers in the SAMP community. If you aren't satisfied with what's out there, SAMPHositng is designed to make it as easy as possible to create your own high-quality offering. Feel free to sign up today and create a unique server of your own.  

A lot can be done on the server-side of San Andreas Multiplayer (SAMP), but there are some things you can only improve from your local PC. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a 17-year-old game, and SAMP is based on the first version of it that was released. As a result, there are various bugs, compatibility issues, and graphical inconsistencies that don't hold up to modern standards.

Thankfully, due to San Andreas' vibrant community, there are dozens of mods that add new models, introduce graphical upgrades, fix bugs, and more. But with over a thousand mods available for the game, how do you choose which to install, and know which are compatible with SAMP and which will get you banned? Here are seven must-have SAMP mods that should work flawlessly with your install:

Silent's ASI Loader

Silent's ASI Loader isn't flashy, but it's what allows many of the other mods in the list to work. Its .dll file enables ASI plugin functionality for San Andreas and incorporates an .ini file that can be used to toggle plugin loading on or off.

ASI loader is lightweight, can be configured to use different mods on different game executables, and is compatible with old and new steam executables.

Silent Patch

Silent Patch is an essential mod for San Andreas that fixes many bugs and issues across 1.0, Steam, and Rockstar Launcher versions of the game. Many of the changes it makes represent huge quality of life improvements and narrow the gap between the 1.0 and other versions of the game. Here are some of the most significant fixes:

• Removes the 14ms frame delay, allowing the game to lock properly to 30 FPS instead of 25 fps
• Prevents the mouse from locking up on newer systems when exiting the menu
• Allows 16:9 resolutions to be selected
• Removes the DirectPlay dependency, which improves compatibility with Windows 8+
• Fixes wet road reflections
• Removes graphical artifacts on high RAM usage
• Allows the cleaning of dirty cars
• Gives each car a unique number plate
• Increases the number of indoor lights on each model from 4 to 6 on high settings, improving lighting fidelity
• Fixes dozens of game-breaking and minor bugs

Mod Loader

Most who have done any form of modding will know what a mod loader is. Mod Loader for San Andreas, GTA III, and Vice City lets you install mods in a user-friendly way and, vitally, ensures no changes are made to your core game files – instead, mods are injected at runtime. This lets users easily uninstall mods that they don't want anymore.

Mod Loader also provides an in-game menu for configuration, instant mod swapping with no restarts, and allows you to isolate sets of mods from others with profiles.

Widescreen Fixes

Though Silent Patch enables widescreen resolutions, the default implementation in San Andreas is far from ideal. UI elements get stretched, the fov is too narrow, and things generally look "off".

Widescreen fixes by thirteenag and Wesser address this. They do away with the "anamorphic widescreen" effect seen in base SAMP, which caps the vertical and horizontal FOV at 70 and 55 degrees and fails to properly support 16:9 aspect ratios.

Remastered GUI

Remastered GUI by Ash_735 ports the UI textures from the mobile game into the PC version of the game, providing a clearer experience at higher resolutions. It's best used with Wesser's widescreen fixes.

ENBSeries Shaders

The ENBSeries by Boris Voronstov is renowned for dramatically improving the lighting in many games. In SAMP, it adds modern effects like SSAO, per-pixel car reflections, depth of field, shadow blurring, and more.

Though installing ENBSeries won't make your game look like GTA V, it'll certainly get it a lot closer than it was before. For it to work properly with SAMP, however, you'll also want to install the SAMP graphic restore mod, which fixes incompatibilities.  

GInput

Due to San Andreas' age, its support for modern controllers on PC is limited. The GInput mod adds complete XInput support to the game, supporting correct mapping (when compared to the console version),  full vibration support, and more.

If you prefer to play SAMP with a controller, this mod will greatly increase your quality of life and extend the types of controller you can use with the game.

Despite its popularity, San Andreas Multiplayer (SA-MP) isn't available as part of the base game. Given Rockstar's hard stance on modders and the age of the game, it's unlikely it ever will. So, if that's the case, how do you install SAMP, and do you need a specific version of the game to do so? We'll answer that in this guide.

A word on GTA: San Andreas versions

There are multiple versions of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas out there on PC: the Steam version, the Rockstar launcher version, the PC version, and the $6.99 remastered Microsoft Store version.

Both the Steam, Rockstar, and DVD/retail versions can run script-based mods like SAMP. The Microsoft store version, however, is based on the mobile version of the game and is more locked down. We'll be focusing on the Steam and retail (a.k.a PC) versions of the game today. This is because the Rockstar launcher version has a form of DRM that may make legally downgrading difficult.

Pre-requisites

To install SAMP you'll (naturally) first want a copy of the game. Specifically, though, you need version 1 of the game. Thankfully, you can downgrade both the Steam and Rockstar/DVD versions using community-built tools. We'll show you how to do this.

The minimum requirements to run SAMP do not differ from the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas base game. In many cases, it even gives better performance. If you are on a large, busy server, however, you may experience slowdowns on a low spec machine. Here are the official minimum and recommended requirements for single player:

Minimum requirements

• 1  GHz processor
• 256 MB RAM
• 64MB VRAM video card
• 3.6 GB HDD space

Recommended

• 2.8 GHz processor or higher
• 1  GB RAM
• 5 GB HDD space

SAMP requires an additional 50MB of free hard drive space, and an internet connection over 512k.

How to install SAMP on Steam (and downgrade San Andreas)

As mentioned, you need to be on version 1 of the singleplayer game in order to make use of SAMP. Though the official website says you cannot downgrade the Steam version of the game, this is incorrect. There's a community tool original made by Gamerzworld of the GTAForums that allows you to downgrade your copy.
Here's how you can downgrade and use it:

1. Download a fresh copy of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas on Steam

That's right, even if you already have the game installed. The downgrade has a better chance of working with fresh files, and it's not like the download is particularly large.

2. Right-click the game in your library and select Properties > Local Files > Browse...

3.  Add "(Downgraded)" to the end of your Grand Theft Auto San Andreas folder name

This will stop Steam from automatically updating the files again or detecting an issue with the game and trying to repair it.

4. Download the Downgrader

You have a few options for download. The recommended is the official GTA forums thread. However, in the case that those links are down, you can try this Google Drive link.

5. Extract the downgrader zip and run sadowngrader.exe

Accept the terms and download the patch files from the Rockstar Nexus if prompted. Wait for the downgrader to finish scanning your files.

6. Tick San Andreas Multiplayer and any other mods you'd like and press Downgrade

Wait for the files to be patched.

7. Press I Agree and then Install on the SAMP installer

Wait for the setup to complete and press Finish.

8. Launch SAMP by double-clicking samp.exe in your game directory

How to Install SAMP and downgrade San Andreas (PC version)

Though you can use the same tool as above to downgrade your San Andreas PC version, this only holds true if you have the US retail 2.0 version. As a result, we instead recommend you download the third-party patcher. This supports the following San Andreas versions:

• USA 1.01
• USA 2.00
• European 1.01
• European 2.00
• German 1.01
• German 1.00

Here's how you can use the tool:

1. Extract the .zip file to a new folder and run gtasapatch.exe

2. Press "Next" twice and browse to your GTA: San Andreas install location

3. Press "Next", then "Start", and wait for your game to patch

4. Download the official SAMP client and run the .exe as an administrator

5. Press I Agree, browse to your install location, and click Install

6. Browse to your install location and run SAMP.exe

You can now use the SAMP interface to connect to the server of your choice.

If you're reading this, there's a good chance you've seen the term "SAMP" bandied around on gaming forums and news sites. The problem with acronyms, however, is that they're completely incomprehensible if you don't already know their meaning.

If you asked Google, it would tell you that samp is a coarsely ground corn of African origin. While not technically wrong, we're going to guess that's not exactly what you're looking for. So, though many of our customers will already know what SAMP is, we're going to take the time to explain it for those who don't.  

What is SAMP?

SAMP, also characterized SA-MP, is a mod for Grand Theft Auto San Andreas that enables full multiplayer functionality. Standing simply for "San Andreas Multi-player", it allows owners of the game to play with up to 999 other people at a time over the internet or LAN.

As well as enabling player counts rarely seen on a single server, SAMP is incredibly customizable and scriptable. As well as everything you can do in single-player San Andreas, you can create custom, scripted game modes, and plugins.

Want to create a zombie game, a full police officer simulator, a first-person shooter, a stunt racing server, or a Lord of the Rings roleplay? San Andreas Multiplayer lets you do that. No two SAMP servers need to be the same, and they rarely are.

Why SAMP hosting is important

San Andreas is coming up to 17 years old now, so the game isn't particularly performance intensive. However, hosting a server with up to 1,000 players, each with their own stats, movements, actions, and interactions, can be. As a result, with insufficient stats, a SAMP server is liable to crash, lag, or otherwise provide a poor experience for players.

Renting a SAMP server from a provider helps to combat this, particularly if you have a server with dedicated resources. You gain access to a powerful remote computer that is more likely to house the number of players you dream of and won't be affected by factors like what else you're doing on your PC. As well as the hardware itself, there's internet speed to think of, with SAMP hosts holding gigabit internet connections able to house as many players as you wish with no slowdown on the server or your home network.

Even better, you can have your server running 24/7, 365 days a week. There's no need to turn it off at night to save your electricity bill or be inundated with messages because your internet connection has cut out. Players no longer have to worry about whether their timezone lines up with the server creator, or worry about the server going down in the middle of a mission.

When you don't need SAMP hosting

That said, we don't think that SAMP hosting is for everyone. If you're budget-conscious and just want to play GTA: San Andreas with a couple of friends, you don't need to pay for hosting. Certainly, it provides better performance and a lot of convenience, but it isn't strictly necessary.

On a small scale, then, you'll get on okay running a SAMP server on a regular gaming PC with a good internet connection or a home server. We only ask that should you want to expand your server or increase its convenience, you give us a thought.

Have more questions about whether a hosted SAMP server is right for your needs? Get in touch with our support for an honest, non-financially motivated opinion.

Happy roleplaying,

The SAMPHosting team