A Guide to the 15-Minute GTA: San Andreas Speedrun

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a colossal game. A casual playthrough can take 30-40 hours, and a 100% run can easily top 100 hours. So, how is it possible that speedrunners can see the credit roll in under 15 minutes?

The answer isn't just "playing fast." It's about fundamentally breaking the game's code from the inside. This guide will explain the "how" behind one of the most famous and technically mind-blowing speedruns in gaming history.

The Goal: "Any%"

First, it's important to understand the "Any%" category. This doesn't mean completing 100% of the game. It means doing whatever it takes to trigger the end credits as fast as possible, using any glitches, skips, or exploits available.

You don't need to unlock all three islands. You don't need to do the pilot school. You just need to start the game and, through a technical miracle, start and finish the final mission.

The Glitch: Arbitrary Code Execution (ACE)

This entire speedrun hinges on one massive, game-breaking exploit: Arbitrary Code Execution, or "ACE."

In simple terms, ACE is a way for the player to "write" their own new code into the game's memory and then trick the game into running it. It's essentially hacking the game live, using only in-game actions.

The goal of this "new code" is simple: to force the game to start the final mission, "End of the Line."

How the 15-Minute Run Works: A Simplified Breakdown

While the exact inputs are pixel-perfect and require hundreds of hours of practice, the theory behind the run can be broken down into a few key phases.

Phase 1: The Setup (The First 10 Minutes)

The run starts like any normal game. The player completes the opening "Big Smoke" mission and makes their way to the next mission, "Ryder." This mission is used because it's the first one that gives the player the freedom needed to perform the glitch.

During the "Ryder" mission, the player must perform a specific, complex series of actions to destabilize the game.

Phase 2: "Writing" the Code (The Glitch)

This is where the magic happens. The player has to "write" a line of code into the game's memory. This isn't done by typing, but by performing a long, precise sequence of in-game actions.

1. Triggering a Glitch: The runner will first trigger a side mission (like the Vigilante missions) at the exact same frame they start a cutscene in the "Ryder" mission. This confuses the game and puts it into a "glitched" state.

2. The "Payload": The player then performs a long, precise "dance" of inputs. This often involves:

   • Getting on a specific bike.

   • Aiming a weapon in a specific direction.

   • Navigating the pause menu in a very specific order.

   • Looking left and right at exact times.

Every single one of these actions (aiming, opening the menu, etc.) writes a specific value into a specific part of the game's memory. When done in the correct sequence, these values come together to form a single, new command: "Load Mission: End of the Line."

This sequence is incredibly fragile. A single wrong button press, a millisecond of lag, or an NPC bumping into the player will ruin the run, and they must restart the entire game.

Phase 3: The "Warp" (Minute 12)

If the player performs the entire 8-10 minute setup perfectly, the game suddenly hangs for a second. The screen fades to black.

When the screen fades back in, CJ is no longer in Grove Street at the start of the game. He is now in front of Big Smoke's crack palace, in the middle of the game's final, climactic mission, "End of the Line." The entire 30+ hours of story, missions, and map unlocks have been bypassed.

Phase 4: The Finale (The Last 3 Minutes)

From here, there's no more glitching. The player simply has to play the final mission. They must fight their way through the crack palace, save Sweet, and chase down Tenpenny in the firetruck.

As soon as Tenpenny's truck flies off the bridge and the final cutscene ends, the credits roll. The timer stops, and a 100-hour game has been conquered in under 15 minutes.

It's not a run that tests a player's driving or shooting skills, but one that tests their absolute precision and deep, technical knowledge of the game's inner workings. It remains one of the most broken and awe-inspiring speedruns ever discovered.