Free ‘GTA’ Mod Revives ‘San Andreas’

Many gamers have often wished for proper VR support for Rockstar’s iconic titles. While the official versions might not have embraced virtual reality yet, modder ‘Holydh’ has stepped up to fill that gap. They’ve introduced a modified UEVR plugin specifically for the PC version of GTA: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition (2021), bringing this classic 2004 game into the world of PC VR headsets.

Named the ‘GTA San Andreas Definitive Edition – 6DoF UEVR Plugin,’ this mod provides full first-person VR experience combined with 6DOF motion controls, but keep in mind, it only works with the Steam version of the game. Unfortunately, if you’re using the Epic Games Store or Rockstar launcher versions, you won’t be able to enjoy this VR immersion.

The mod takes the Unreal Engine VR (UEVR) plugin by ‘praydog’ to the next level, adding several new features. Without Holydh’s enhancements, the game camera would automatically track CJ’s movements. This mod includes support for all pedestrian actions (even crouching), every type of vehicle control—even using the jetpack—along with various camera comfort tweaks. It smartly auto-handles UEVR camera settings during cutscenes, and introduces motion controller support for weapons, including sniper scopes, making it possible to enjoy the entire game in VR.

You can watch this mod in action, thanks to a demonstration shared by Holydh:

Accessing Holydh’s mod is straightforward through Nexus Mods, free of charge. There are a few steps you’ll need to follow to get it up and running with the Steam version, and you must own a copy of this version. You’ll also need Praydog’s UEVR Nightly 01042 build, conveniently linked on the Nexus Mods page, to make everything work smoothly.

In terms of hardware, some users have successfully run the mod on NVIDIA RTX 2080 GPUs. However, there are several graphical settings to play with, in case you have an older setup.

This project is open-source and can be copied or modified through GitHub. However, it’s important to note Rockstar Games’ parent company, Take-Two, has been known to crack down on similar mods. In 2022, they issued takedown requests for several of Luke Ross’ popular mods for games like GTA 5, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Mafia Definitive Edition, though these actions were against Patreon, not Ross directly. Unlike Ross’ early-access, paid-support mods, the UEVR and Holydh’s plugins are free, which hopefully means they might have more staying power.

Meanwhile, if you were hoping for an official release of GTA: San Andreas on Quest, it seems you’ll be waiting a while, as that has been delayed “indefinitely.”