: Save files from v1.0 and v1.01 are generally compatible with each other because they share the same underlying script architecture. However, they are not compatible with v2.0 (the "Second Edition") or the Steam versions without using a save converter or downgrader.

A v1.01 save game is more than a block of data; it is a historical document. First, it represents . Starting a new game on v1.01 meant you would never experience the frustration of a mission marker vanishing. It offered a promise: your progress was real and repeatable. For speedrunners and completionists, v1.01 save files became the gold standard, as they ensured that every challenge was fair (by San Andreas standards) and winnable.