Multi Theft Auto explained for San Andreas players
Multi Theft Auto (MTA) is a free, open-source multiplayer platform that turns the classic PC version of GTA San Andreas into an online game. You install it on top of your existing copy, open the server browser and join servers running racing, deathmatch, roleplay, zombie survival and hundreds of custom modes. Everything on those servers is built with Lua scripts. This briefing covers what MTA is, which copies of San Andreas work with it, how to get online, and how it compares with SA-MP and open.mp.
What Multi Theft Auto actually is
Rockstar shipped GTA San Andreas in 2004 as a single-player game. The two-player co-op mode on PlayStation 2 was the only multiplayer it had. Multi Theft Auto is a fan-built modification that fills that gap. It adds networking, a server browser, voice and text chat, and a full scripting engine to the original game.
The full product name is Multi Theft Auto: San Andreas, usually shortened to MTA:SA. It runs as its own launcher. It never replaces your single-player game. You start San Andreas normally for the story, and you start MTA when you want to play online. Your save files and campaign progress are never touched.
Three things set MTA apart from a simple co-op patch:
- Servers run game modes, not just free roam. Each server loads “resources” (packages of Lua scripts, maps, models and sounds). These can rebuild San Andreas into a racing league, a team shooter or a full city-life roleplay sim.
- The client downloads content automatically. When you join a server with custom cars, skins or a custom map, MTA pulls the files in during the connection. You don’t need to install mods by hand.
- It is open source and free. The code is public on GitHub under the GPL-3.0 licence. There is no subscription and no paid tier from the MTA team. No microtransactions are built into the platform.
That last point stands in sharp contrast to Rockstar’s own online model. If you have ever compared the price of GTA Online Shark Cards against what they buy, MTA is the opposite approach. The platform costs nothing, and the community builds the content. Individual servers can still sell VIP perks, so read a server’s rules before you spend money there.
A short history: from GTA III to “Blue”
MTA started in 2003 as a multiplayer hack for GTA III. Grand Theft Auto had no official PC multiplayer at the time, and the community wanted to drive around Liberty City together. The early builds were crude: player sync was basic and there was little to do besides race and fight. Still, it proved the concept worked. A Vice City version followed.
The team then rebuilt the engine from scratch under the codename “Blue”. That name survives today in the GitHub repository, multitheftauto/mtasa-blue. The San Andreas branch first shipped as a racing-focused release before the full “deathmatch” platform arrived. That platform introduced scripting, so it could host any game mode. MTA:SA 1.0 arrived in August 2009 under the GPLv3 licence, and that release is when the source code went public.
Development has continued in versioned branches since then. The 1.5 series ran for years and added steady improvements to sync, scripting functions and anti-cheat. The current branch is 1.6. The project is unusually long-lived for a fan mod. It has outlasted the original PC release of San Andreas on most digital stores, and that matters for your setup.
Which copy of San Andreas works with MTA
This is where most new players stall. MTA hooks into the original PC game engine from 2004. It cannot run on remasters or ports.
| Version of GTA San Andreas | Works with MTA? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Original PC disc release (v1.0) | Yes | The version MTA was built around |
| Classic Steam version | Yes | MTA’s installer handles the executable differences |
| Classic Rockstar Games Launcher version | Yes | The copy Rockstar gave away free when the launcher debuted in 2019 |
| GTA The Trilogy: The Definitive Edition | No | Rebuilt in Unreal Engine; MTA cannot hook into it |
| PS2, PS4, PS5, Xbox, Switch versions | No | MTA is PC only |
| Android and iOS versions | No | Different engine port; not supported |
The free copy is the one behind the old Reddit PSA titled “With GTA:SA being free, try out Multi Theft Auto”. When Rockstar launched its PC launcher on September 17, 2019, anyone who installed it during the limited-time launch promotion got the classic San Andreas for free. If you claimed it then, it is still in your launcher library and it works with MTA.
The situation changed in late 2021. Rockstar pulled the standalone classic trilogy from digital storefronts around the launch of the Definitive Edition. If you already owned the classic version on Steam, it stays in your library. If you are buying today, check the store listing carefully. You need the classic PC game, not the Definitive Edition alone.
Agent's note
Keep a clean, unmodded San Andreas install just for MTA. Many servers check core game files, and edited files can block you from connecting. Typical offenders are weapon data, handling lines and replaced models in gta3.img.
How to install MTA and join your first server
The installer is small. Nearly all of your setup time goes into finding a server you like. Download MTA only from the official Multi Theft Auto website or the official GitHub releases page. Mirror sites bundling “MTA with extras” are exactly where malware tends to hide.
Quick steps: play GTA San Andreas online with MTA
- Install the classic PC version of GTA San Andreas and launch it once so it finishes its first-run setup.
- Download the MTA:SA installer from the official Multi Theft Auto site.
- Run the installer and point it at your San Andreas folder when it asks.
- Launch Multi Theft Auto: San Andreas, open Settings and set your nickname.
- Click Browse Servers, filter by game mode or player count, and double-click a server to join.
On first launch, MTA may ask to run a compatibility fix or install a missing component. Let it. These prompts usually cover DirectX runtime files or the executable patches it needs for the Steam and launcher builds.
When you join, a progress bar appears while the server sends its resources. A busy roleplay server with custom vehicles can take a minute or two the first time. After that, the files are cached and rejoining is fast.
Using the server browser
The browser has tabs for Internet, LAN, Favourites and Recently Played. Sort by player count to find active servers, or search by name if a friend told you where to go. A small lock icon means the server needs a password.
If you already know a server’s address, use Quick Connect. You can also open the console with F8 and type connect followed by the IP and port, for example connect 123.45.67.89 22003. Some private servers add a password after the port.
Controls and console commands
MTA keeps the standard San Andreas controls for walking, driving and shooting. On top of that, it adds a multiplayer layer. Servers can rebind keys or add their own menus, but these defaults work almost everywhere.
| Key or command | What it does |
|---|---|
| T | Open global chat |
| Y | Open team chat (on servers that use teams) |
| Tab | Show the scoreboard |
| F8 | Open the console |
| F11 | Toggle the full-screen map (on most game modes) |
| F12 | Take a screenshot, saved in your MTA folder |
| Esc | Main menu, disconnect, settings |
nick NewName |
Change your nickname from the console |
connect IP port |
Join a server directly |
quit or exit |
Close MTA from the console |
MTA does not accept the single-player cheat codes. Typing combinations on a server does nothing, because the server controls vehicles, weapons and health. If you want the full list of GTA San Andreas cheats for offline play, those work in your normal single-player game. That includes the GTA SA Rhino cheat for spawning a tank. On MTA, a tank only appears if the server’s scripts allow it.
Gameplay content: the game modes worth trying
The phrase “multiplayer San Andreas” undersells it. MTA servers are closer to independent games that happen to share an engine, a map and a cast of skins. These are the main categories you will see in the browser.
| Game mode | What you do | Good first pick if you want |
|---|---|---|
| Race | Checkpoint and sprint races on custom-built tracks, often with voted map rotations | Quick rounds, low learning curve |
| Deathmatch (DM) | Free-for-all or team gunfights in arenas and sections of the open map | Pure combat |
| Destruction Derby (DD) | Last car standing, frequently on floating platforms over water | Chaotic short matches |
| Freeroam | Spawn vehicles, explore, mess around with other players | Casual sessions with friends |
| Roleplay (RP) | Jobs, houses, factions, police, gangs, an in-character economy | Long-term progression and community |
| Zombie and DayZ-style | Survive, loot and scavenge in a reworked San Andreas | Survival tension |
| Stealth, CTF, Assault | Objective-based team modes that ship as default MTA resources | Classic competitive modes |
Race and DD: where MTA made its name
Racing is MTA’s oldest tradition. The race resource that ships with the server supports sprints, laps, vehicle changes mid-race and a “Hunter” ending, where the first player to reach it gets the attack helicopter. The DD and “DM race” scenes are their own subcultures. DM race maps in particular are hand-built obstacle courses that take serious practice to finish.
Roleplay: San Andreas as a living city
Roleplay servers are where you spend the most hours. You start with a character, get a job (trucker, mechanic, taxi driver, police officer), earn money, and buy vehicles and property. Prices are set by each server. A starter car might cost a few thousand in-game dollars on one server and far more on another. There is no universal economy, and no figure from single-player carries over.
Many RP servers lean hard on the original story’s factions. Expect player-run versions of the Ballas, the Vagos and the Grove Street Families. Membership is often earned through applications rather than picked from a menu. If you want the in-universe background before you join a gang faction, the lore of Grove Street and the Grove Street Families from the single-player story is worth knowing. RP communities often reference it.
Agent's note
Read a roleplay server’s rules on its forum or Discord before you join. Terms like “powergaming” and “metagaming” are bannable on serious servers, and staff will expect you to know them.
MTA vs SA-MP vs open.mp
San Andreas has three major multiplayer platforms. They share the same base game and serve different tastes. San Andreas Multiplayer (SA-MP) was MTA’s big rival for most of the 2010s. open.mp is a newer open-source project built to stay compatible with SA-MP servers.
| Feature | Multi Theft Auto | SA-MP | open.mp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scripting language | Lua | Pawn | Pawn (SA-MP compatible) |
| Client-side scripting | Yes | No | Limited, server-driven |
| Source code | Open (GPL-3.0) | Closed | Open |
| Custom models and textures | Yes, streamed automatically | Added in later versions | Supported via SA-MP-compatible methods |
| Shaders and custom UI | Yes (HLSL shaders, DX drawing, GUI) | No | No |
| Built-in map editor | Yes | No (third-party tools) | No (third-party tools) |
| Compatible game version | Classic PC San Andreas | Classic PC v1.0 | Classic PC v1.0 |
The practical difference comes down to client-side scripting. On MTA, a server can run code on your machine. That allows custom HUDs, shaders, smooth animations, new vehicle behaviour and polished login screens. SA-MP and open.mp servers mostly run logic on the server and send results to players. That is lighter but more limited.
SA-MP’s appeal has always been simplicity and a huge library of Pawn scripts. Roleplay players who grew up on SA-MP sometimes find MTA servers heavier to download. Players coming from modern games tend to find MTA servers look and play closer to a current title. Pick MTA if you care about custom content and visuals. Pick open.mp if your friends already play on SA-MP-style servers.
Scripting and making your own content
Every MTA server is a bundle of resources. A resource is a folder (or zip) containing a meta.xml file that lists its scripts, files and settings. The scripts themselves are written in Lua. Lua is easy to pick up if you have written any code at all.
Scripts are split into two sides:
- Server-side scripts handle authority: spawning players, handing out money, saving accounts to a database, and validating anything a cheater might try to fake.
- Client-side scripts handle presentation: drawing the HUD, playing sounds, applying shaders, building menus and replacing models.
The official MTA wiki documents the functions and events. These range from creating vehicles and markers to drawing text with DirectX calls. The built-in map editor runs inside the game. You place objects, spawn points and checkpoints in 3D and save them as a resource. Most race tracks and DM maps on public servers start life in that editor.
A sensible first project is a small freeroam script. Write a command that spawns a vehicle, add a marker that teleports you across the map, then add a scoreboard column. Once those three pieces work, you understand the event system that bigger game modes use.
Custom models and the download system
MTA can replace vehicle, skin and object models at runtime. Scripts load DFF and TXD files with built-in functions. Because the server streams those files to each player, nobody has to touch their own San Andreas folder. This is why MTA servers can run full car packs and completely new map areas while your single-player game stays untouched.
Running your own server
The MTA server is a separate, free download that runs on Windows and Linux. You can run it on your own PC for friends or rent a cheap Linux host for a public server. The server comes with the default resources (race, freeroam, deathmatch, CTF, stealth, assault and more), so you have something playable from the first boot.
| Port | Protocol | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 22003 | UDP | Main game traffic (players connect here) |
| 22005 | TCP | HTTP server for resource downloads and the web admin panel |
| 22126 | UDP | Server browser (ASE) query port |
Server settings live in mtaserver.conf. Here you set the server name, maximum players, password, ports and which resources start automatically. The admin panel resource gives you an in-game interface for kicking, banning, muting and changing maps. Give yourself admin rights through the access control list (ACL) file before you go public.
Heads up
Opening ports exposes your machine. On a home connection, forward only the three MTA ports, keep your server software updated, and never run untrusted resources from unknown sources: server-side Lua can read and write files on the host.
The open-source project on GitHub
The MTA codebase lives in the multitheftauto/mtasa-blue repository on GitHub. If you have only seen the repo through search results, it can look intimidating. The repository navigation is standard GitHub. The folders and files list at the top shows the client, server, shared code and vendored libraries. The latest commit line shows how recently someone pushed a change, and on MTA that is usually recent.
A few parts of the repository page are worth understanding:
- README and repository files navigation. These explain how to build the client and server from source on Windows, and the server on Linux.
- Issues and pull requests. This is where bugs are tracked and contributions are reviewed. Anyone can submit a fix, though core maintainers decide what merges.
- Releases. Official builds are tagged here alongside the main website downloads.
- Sponsor this project. The project accepts donations to cover infrastructure such as master servers, download mirrors and anti-cheat work.
- Used by. This GitHub panel lists other public repositories that depend on the code.
The GPL-3.0 licence means you can fork and modify the code. If you distribute a modified version, you must release your changes under the same licence. Companion repositories hold the default resources, so you can study how race or the admin panel are built and borrow patterns for your own scripts.
Anti-cheat, bans and staying safe
MTA ships with its own anti-cheat. It checks for injected code, modified game memory and known cheat tools. Each MTA install has a unique serial, and cheating detected by the platform can lead to a global ban. That stops you from joining any MTA server, not just one community. Server owners can also ban serials locally for breaking their own rules.
Heads up
Running trainers, mod menus or memory editors while MTA is open can get your serial banned across every server. Keep cheat tools off any PC you use for MTA, and do not run CLEO or ASI mods in your MTA install.
Two more habits keep you out of trouble:
- Download only from official sources. “Free VIP” tools and “unban” programs passed around in Discord DMs are a common way to deliver password stealers to players.
- Use a unique password for each server account. Many RP servers store their own accounts, and not all of them protect that data well.
Why MTA still matters when GTA 6 is coming
Rockstar’s attention is on GTA 6 and its return to a Vice City-inspired setting. Our explainer on GTA 6 Leonida covers that new state in detail. You might expect a mod for a 2004 game to fade out as a result. It hasn’t, and the reasons are practical.
MTA runs on almost any Windows PC made in the last fifteen years, which keeps it accessible worldwide. Its communities are self-governing, with no publisher deciding what content is allowed or monetized. And because everything is scripted, servers keep reinventing what San Andreas is. On a given evening, the server browser holds racing leagues, roleplay cities with full economies, and survival maps that barely resemble the original Los Santos.
There is also a preservation angle. The original PC San Andreas is no longer sold standalone on most storefronts. MTA is one of the main reasons the classic version keeps an active player base. If you prefer the original art style and the original cast performances to the remaster, MTA gives you a reason to keep that install alive. Our piece on the San Andreas actors covers the performers behind those voices.
FAQ
Is Multi Theft Auto free?
Yes. The MTA client and server are free to download and use, and the source code is public under GPL-3.0. You still need a legitimate copy of the classic PC version of GTA San Andreas. Some individual servers sell optional perks, but the platform itself charges nothing.
Does Multi Theft Auto work with the Definitive Edition?
No. The Definitive Edition was rebuilt in Unreal Engine, and MTA only hooks into the original 2004 PC engine. You need the classic disc, Steam or Rockstar Games Launcher version of San Andreas.
Can I play MTA on PlayStation, Xbox or mobile?
No. MTA is a Windows PC platform. Console versions and the Android and iOS ports use different builds of the game that MTA does not support.
Is MTA safe to install?
The official installer from the Multi Theft Auto website or the official GitHub releases is safe and widely used. The risk comes from third-party “modded MTA” downloads and cheat tools, which can carry malware and also get your serial banned.
Does MTA affect my single-player save?
No. MTA runs through its own launcher and leaves your story saves alone. Server content downloads into MTA’s own folders, not your San Andreas data files.
What is the difference between MTA and SA-MP?
MTA uses Lua with both server-side and client-side scripting, supports shaders and custom UI, and includes a built-in map editor. SA-MP uses Pawn, runs logic mostly on the server and is closed source. open.mp is an open-source, SA-MP-compatible alternative. MTA is the stronger choice for servers built around custom content.
Do San Andreas cheat codes work on MTA servers?
No. Servers control weapons, vehicles, health and money, so single-player cheat codes do nothing online. Use them in your normal offline game instead.
