Many gamers have long wished for virtual reality support for some of Rockstar’s classic titles, and while official support has been elusive, a modder known as ‘Holydh’ has stepped up to the plate. They’ve just unveiled a modified UEVR plugin crafted for the PC version of “GTA: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition” (2021), bringing this beloved classic into the VR realm for PC gamers.
Dubbed the ‘GTA San Andreas Definitive Edition – 6DoF UEVR Plugin,’ this mod introduces full first-person VR capabilities along with 6DOF motion controls to the game’s Steam variant. However, be warned: this mod won’t play nice with versions purchased via the Epic Games Store or Rockstar’s own launcher.
The foundation of this mod is the Unreal Engine VR (UEVR) plugin originally created by ‘praydog’. Holydh has expanded on this with several enhancements that truly set it apart. Without Holydh’s contribution, you’d find the camera annoyingly swiveling to track CJ’s every move on its own.
In its comprehensive package, the mod covers all movements on foot, including crouching, maneuvers for all vehicles — yes, that includes the jetpack! — camera comfort adjustments, automatic management of UEVR camera settings during cutscenes, and weapons that support motion controllers. Sniper scopes, too, are fully functional, ensuring you can experience the entire game from beginning to end in virtual reality.
If you’re curious, there’s a taste of what the mod has to offer in a demo video by Holydh online.
To dive into this virtual adventure, you can download Holydh’s mod from Nexus Mods at no cost. Getting it to run is a breeze but does involve a few steps to sync it with the Steam edition. You’ll also need the UEVR Nightly 01042 build by Praydog, conveniently linked on the Nexus Mods page.
Regarding hardware, some users have noted success with NVIDIA RTX 2080s, but don’t fret if your GPU isn’t as up-to-date; the mod allows for several graphical settings that can be tweaked for older setups.
It’s worth mentioning that although this project is open-source and can be freely copied or modified on GitHub, Rockstar Games’ parent company, Take-Two, has a reputation for legal action against similar mods in the past. In 2022, they famously targeted some of Luke Ross’s popular Rockstar mods, including VR adaptations for “GTA 5,” “Red Dead Redemption 2,” and “Mafia Definitive Edition.”
However, the legal moves weren’t directly against Ross, but targeted his Patreon, where the mods were offered through paid support tiers. That isn’t a concern with UEVR or Holydh’s plugin — it’s completely free, which makes this VR transformation of “GTA: San Andreas” possibly your most sustainable option for PC VR headsets.
In other news, don’t hold your breath for an official VR version on Quest, as “GTA: San Andreas” has faced indefinite delays for that platform. So, for now, this mod might be your only ticket to exploring San Andreas in VR.
