Hello.
Long-time SA:MPer, roleplayer, modder, server owner, and overall supporter of the broader community here returning after a sizeable hiatus.
As with most people floating back into the community after such a time -- and still without a central official forum via which to communicate -- I'm a little in the dark as to how alive the scene still is in 2023. I'm more than aware of the myriad of Middle Eastern and BRIC country communities still extant on the platform but my passion has always been the English language roleplaying scene.
Shortly after I last visited the community, mmartin's Los Santos Roleplay shut its SA:MP server in preparation for a GTA V multiplayer server that from my understanding has yet to materialise. Singleplayer Roleplay was doing well under Reyo and Dignity and has since merged with Red County Roleplay to form GTA Chronicles. The work they've put into revitalising the tired Los Santos environments of 2004 is unprecedented but I can't help but feel that it's a bit of a missed opportunity given the grander tech demos that came out of the SA:MP DL branch releases.
What is left? Is there some burgeoning roleplaying community that has escaped my notice or have most players whose PCs can handle it left for GTA V?
Is there any room left for innovation and newer communities on the platform? There were talks of Liberty City and Vice City roleplaying servers years back but from what I can see none of them survived or perhaps even made it to release at all.
Thanks for reading and thank you in advance for answering my many questions.