Adrian's Quick Fix for GTA: San Andreas Seaplane Bug on Windows 11

A game developer, Adrian, has been dedicating his spare time to resolving bugs in various games, including Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (GTA: San Andreas), tailored for modern computing systems. Recently, an issue emerged with the Skimmer seaplane becoming invisible after upgrading to Windows 11 24H2. This problem was highlighted by GitHub user hiddenmask58 and pertains to both modded and unmodded versions of the game using SilentPatch. Within 24 hours, Adrian addressed this glitch and disclosed his findings through Silent’s Blog. The root cause lies within a missing configuration in the vehicles.ide file. Additionally, historical design choices regarding vehicle parameters explain why this bug remained undetected for nearly two decades.

The investigation revealed that the vehicles.ide file lacked essential information for the Skimmer, specifically its wheel scale parameters. Although this oversight dates back to the game's original release, previous Windows versions compensated for these omissions by borrowing data from adjacent entries. However, changes in Windows 11 24H2 altered memory handling, exposing the flaw and rendering the Skimmer excessively large and unrenderable. Users can manually adjust the datavehicles.ide file or await a SilentPatch hotfix to restore functionality.

Uncovering the Origins of the Skimmer Bug

The emergence of the Skimmer bug stems from a long-standing oversight in the game's design. While the issue only became apparent with the latest Windows update, its roots trace back to how the developers originally classified vehicles. In earlier titles like GTA III and Vice City, the Skimmer was categorized as a boat, which did not require specific wheel scale parameters. When reclassified as a plane in GTA: San Andreas, these crucial details were inadvertently omitted.

This discrepancy went unnoticed due to how prior operating systems managed missing configurations. From Windows 98 to Windows 11 23H2, the system defaulted to the wheel scale value of the preceding entry in the vehicles.ide file. As a result, players experienced no visible issues with the Skimmer until the new update introduced stricter memory handling protocols. These changes disrupted the default behavior, causing the Skimmer to adopt an impossibly large size, making it unplayable without intervention.

Solutions and Fixes for Restoring the Skimmer

To address the Skimmer bug, users have two primary options: manual adjustment or waiting for an official patch. For those opting for immediate resolution, editing the datavehicles.ide file involves appending specific values related to wheel scale at the end of the Skimmer line. By adding -1, 0.7, 0.7, -1, users can reinstate normal gameplay functionality and enjoy the seaplane once again. Alternatively, keeping an eye on SilentPatch's GitHub repository ensures access to comprehensive fixes addressing multiple in-game glitches.

For individuals unfamiliar with manual file edits, the SilentPatch solution provides a more straightforward approach. Developers are actively working on releasing a hotfix that incorporates necessary parameter updates into the vehicles.ide file automatically. This fix not only resolves the Skimmer issue but also enhances overall game stability. Regardless of the chosen method, restoring the seaplane allows players to continue their adventures seamlessly, whether embarking on a fresh journey or revisiting cherished moments in GTA: San Andreas.