GTA: Carcer City demo recreates Manhunt’s Rust Belt metropolis in San Andreas

The Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas modding community has remained active ever since the game's release in October 2004. Now, a total conversion mod called GTA: Carcer City is making headlines, letting players explore an all-new storyline set in Carcer City, which was featured in Rockstar’s adult-rated, gory, and controversial horror game Manhunt.

The mod leverages assets from GTA: San Andreas and swaps Los Santos for a fully explorable Rust Belt metropolis, offering those looking for something to toy with other than GTA V a way to bide their time for Rockstar's upcoming release.

Furthermore, the GTA: Carcer City ModDB page details that the mod features all key locations from different levels in Manhunt (2003). It’s a clever nod to Rockstar’s interconnected universe, since Grand Theft Auto and Manhunt exist in the same world. Carcer City apparently sits somewhere in the industrial Northeast and is somewhat connected to the events of Grand Theft Auto III, which is set in Liberty City.

As for GTA: Carcer City, it features its own dedicated storyline set in the year 2001. Instead of high-stakes, over-the-top action, GTA: Carcer City promises to delve into a grittier and more atmospheric vibe, aiming to bridge the gap between GTA’s criminal underworld and Manhunt’s brutal horror.

A demo of GTA: Carcer City was recently released on April 10, 2026, by the creator and modder DeadpoolMKD and the Freetime Studios team, allowing players to fully explore Carcer City and get an early taste of the story. The early demo sits at around 2 GB and features seven story missions, an arsenal of new weapons, a few collectibles, and new radio stations to sell the early-2000s mood of 2001.

The Carcer City demo is built on GTA: San Andreas, retaining its classical mechanics such as driving, shooting, and exploration. However, the city streets are somewhat denser and grittier than Rockstar’s Los Santos, with a bit of industrial decay here and there. 

GTA: Carcer City has been in development for several years, and it’s an impressive demo so far. However, there’s still no word on when the mod will officially release, but given the scope of the project, it could take a few more months or even a year before GTA: Carcer City launches. Until then, we might even get Grand Theft Auto VI.