Free ‘GTA’ Mod Reintroduces ‘San Andreas’

Rockstar’s classic games have long enamored fans, yet many have missed out on full VR experiences. Enter modder ‘Holydh’, who has stepped in to fill this void by crafting a modified UEVR plugin for the PC version of GTA: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition (2021). This brings the updated 2004 gem into the immersive realm of PC VR headsets.

Dubbed the ‘GTA San Andreas Definitive Edition – 6DoF UEVR Plugin’, this mod introduces complete first-person VR along with 6 Degrees of Freedom (6DoF) motion controls to the Steam version of the game. However, for those using the Epic Games Store or Rockstar launcher versions, you won’t find the same functionality here.

The foundation of this mod is built on the Unreal Engine VR (UEVR) plugin by ‘praydog’, yet it boasts several extra features that enhance the gameplay experience. Without Holydh’s enhancements, the camera in the game automatically adjusts to follow CJ’s maneuvers, potentially detracting from the immersive feel.

What can you expect from this plugin? It supports all on-foot actions (including crouch), every kind of vehicle control (jetpack lovers, rejoice), and integrates various camera comfort settings. Additionally, it handles UEVR camera settings during cutscenes automatically and ensures weapons are supported by motion controllers. Even sniper scopes work seamlessly, allowing the game to be fully experienced in VR from start to end.

Curious to see it in action? Holydh offers a sneak peek below.

If you’re eager to try out this mod, head over to Nexus Mods where it’s available for free. To get it up and running with the Steam version, you might need to follow a few steps. Besides the game itself, you’ll need to grab Praydog’s UEVR Nightly 01042 build—links are conveniently provided on the Nexus Mods page.

Regarding system requirements, users with NVIDIA RTX 2080s report smooth performance, though there are various graphical settings to tweak if your setup is a bit dated.

It’s worth noting that while this project is open-source and can be freely modified on GitHub, Rockstar Games’ parent company, Take-Two, has a history of being quite strict with similar mods. Back in 2022, they actually removed several of Luke Ross’ popular Rockstar mods, which included VR adaptations for GTA 5, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Mafia Definitive Edition.

That being said, the DMCA takedown didn’t target Ross directly but rather focused on Patreon because the mods were being offered for early access through paid tiers. This isn’t an issue with the UEVR or Holydh’s plugin since they’re both free, making them a safer bet for enjoying GTA: San Andreas in VR for years to come.

Unfortunately, if you’re holding out for an official release on the Quest platform, you might be in for a wait. The launch for Quest has been postponed “indefinitely,” so don’t expect an official standalone version in the near future.