Free ‘GTA’ Mod Revives ‘San Andreas’ Adventure

It’s a bit surprising that some of Rockstar’s most cherished games haven’t received proper VR support. However, the modding community has stepped up in a big way. This time, it’s modder ‘Holydh’ who’s taken the initiative by releasing a tweaked UEVR plugin specifically for the PC version of GTA: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition (2021). Now, fans of this classic from 2004 can immerse themselves in it using PC VR headsets.

This particular mod, known as the ‘GTA San Andreas Definitive Edition – 6DoF UEVR Plugin,’ transforms the Steam version of the game into a full first-person VR experience with 6DOF motion controls. Just a heads up, though – if you’re using versions from the Epic Games Store or Rockstar launcher, this mod won’t work with those.

Drawing from the Unreal Engine VR (UEVR) plugin created by ‘praydog,’ Holydh’s version builds upon it with features that elevate the gaming experience beyond what UEVR offers. Unmodified, the game’s camera would swivel automatically to track CJ’s movements, but this mod puts you in the driver’s seat, literally and figuratively.

From walking, crouching, or maneuvering vehicles (yes, even the famed jetpack), Holydh’s mod covers all on-foot and vehicular antics. It brings comfort adjustments for the camera and smart handling of UEVR settings during cutscenes. Add in support for using motion controllers with weapons, and even sniper scopes are functional. The result? A start-to-finish VR journey.

Want to see the mod in action? Holydh has shared a demo video that’s definitely worth a watch.

To try this mod yourself, head over to Nexus Mods. It’s free, although there are a few steps involved to get it running on the Steam version of the game. Besides the game itself, you’ll need Praydog’s UEVR Nightly 01042 build, which you can conveniently find a link for on the Nexus Mods page.

In terms of hardware, some players have reported smooth sailing with NVIDIA RTX 2080s, but if your GPU is a bit older, you can tweak several graphical settings to optimize the experience.

This open-source project is up on GitHub for anyone interested in copying or modifying it. However, a word of caution: Rockstar’s parent company, Take-Two, has a history of crackdowns when it comes to mods. Back in 2022, they shut down a range of Luke Ross’ popular mods for VR, encompassing titles like GTA 5, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Mafia Definitive Edition.

Interestingly, the DMCA notice wasn’t directly aimed at Ross but rather at Patreon because he was providing access to mods early for paid subscribers. Thankfully, Holydh’s plugin is free, positioning it as potentially the safest way to enjoy GTA: San Andreas in VR without worries of a takedown.

On a related note, if you were hoping for an Oculus Quest release of GTA: San Andreas, you might be waiting for a while. It has been postponed indefinitely, so an official standalone VR version isn’t on the horizon just yet.