This Free Mod Revives ‘San Andreas’ in ‘GTA’

A number of Rockstar’s classic games have been craving proper VR support, and while official solutions have been sparse, modders like ‘Holydh’ are coming to the rescue. This time, a nifty mod for the PC version of GTA: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition (2021) has rolled onto the scene, ushering the beloved 2004 hit into the realm of PC VR headsets.

Dubbed the ‘GTA San Andreas Definitive Edition – 6DoF UEVR Plugin,’ this mod transforms the experience with a full first-person VR view and supports 6DOF motion controls, specifically for the Steam version of the game. Important to note is that it’s not compatible with versions from the Epic Games Store or Rockstar launcher.

Built upon the Unreal Engine VR (UEVR) plugin initially developed by ‘praydog,’ Holydh’s mod brings along features UEVR alone lacks. The addition beautifully stabilizes the camera, which naturally would pivot to keep up with CJ’s movements.

The enhancements don’t stop there. Imagine experiencing all on-foot movements (crouch included), driving every vehicle (jetpack, yes!), and enjoying refined camera comfort tweaks throughout. Automatic management of UEVR camera settings for cutscenes and the inclusion of motion controller-supported weapons, even workable sniper scopes, means players can fully immerse themselves in the game from start to finish in VR.

Curious to see it in action? Holydh has showcased the mod, and you can see it for yourself.

If you’re eager to try this mod, it’s available for free on Nexus Mods. Getting it up and running on the Steam version involves a bit of setup. Besides owning the game, you’ll need the UEVR Nightly 01042 build by Praydog, which can easily be downloaded via the Nexus Mods page.

Regarding system requirements, users have reported that NVIDIA RTX 2080 GPUs handle the mod smoothly, though there are several graphical options to adjust if your system isn’t as modern.

As a heads-up, while the project is open-source and can be copied or edited on GitHub, bear in mind Rockstar’s parent company, Take-Two, has a history of being quite protective of their intellectual properties. In fact, in 2022, they targeted and removed some of Luke Ross’ popular Rockstar mods, including VR versions for GTA 5, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Mafia Definitive Edition from Patreon.

However, Holydh’s plugin, unlike Ross’s work, is free of charge. This might just be your safest option for enjoying GTA: San Andreas on a PC VR headset without fearing legal repercussions.

On a side note, the anticipated release of GTA: San Andreas for the Quest has been delayed indefinitely, meaning a standalone VR experience isn’t on the horizon—at least not officially.