This Free Mod for ‘GTA’ Introduces ‘San Andreas’

Rockstar has a rich catalog of classics, many of which haven’t seen proper VR treatment. But thanks to a passionate modder named Holydh, that’s changing for fans of GTA: San Andreas. They’ve just rolled out a tweaked UEVR plugin for the 2021 PC release of GTA: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition, offering VR enthusiasts a chance to dive back into the iconic 2004 game using a PC VR headset.

Dubbed the ‘GTA San Andreas Definitive Edition – 6DoF UEVR Plugin’, this mod introduces a fully immersive first-person VR experience complete with 6DOF motion controls, specifically designed for the Steam version. It’s worth noting, as Holydh points out, that this version isn’t compatible with copies from the Epic Games Store or Rockstar launcher.

Building on the Unreal Engine VR plugin originally crafted by the talented ‘praydog’, Holydh’s rendition packs several enhancements not found in the basic UEVR. One standout feature is the stability it brings; without it, players would find the in-game camera automatically shifting to keep up with CJ’s movements.

This mod is pretty comprehensive. It incorporates all character movements—including crouching—and even supports all the vehicles you can think of, jetpack included. Add to that some clever camera tweaks for improved comfort, auto-adjusting camera settings for cutscenes, and motion controller-friendly weapons. Plus, sniper scopes are now functional, ensuring you can enjoy the game from beginning to end in VR.

Want to check it out? Take a look below, thanks to some footage from Holydh:

Interested in getting your hands on this mod? Head over to Nexus Mods, where you can download it for free. There are a few steps to follow to make it work with the Steam version, but nothing too daunting. Beyond owning the Steam game, you’ll need Praydog’s UEVR Nightly 01042 build—conveniently linked on the Nexus Mods page—for setup.

As for performance, users have had success running the mod on NVIDIA RTX 2080 graphics cards, although there are plenty of settings to tweak if you’re working with older hardware.

Although this community project is open-source and available for modification on GitHub, there’s a cloud of caution hanging over similar ventures. Rockstar’s parent company, Take-Two, has shown a litigious side concerning user-created mods. Last year, they famously targeted many of Luke Ross’ beloved Rockstar mods, such as the VR adaptations for GTA 5, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Mafia Definitive Edition, taking them down via DMCA notices.

However, in the case of Ross, the takedown was directed at Patreon, where he was sharing early access to his mods through paid tiers. Holydh’s plugin, being freely available, might avoid similar pitfalls, offering gamers a relatively safe option to enjoy GTA: San Andreas in VR for the foreseeable future.

In other news, the standalone Quest version of GTA: San Andreas has been “indefinitely” shelved, so don’t hold your breath for an official VR release on that platform anytime soon.