Rockstar’s classic games have often missed the boat when it comes to virtual reality support, leaving fans yearning for a more immersive experience. However, modding wizard ‘Holydh’ has stepped up to change that with a new mod for GTA: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition (2021) that lets you dive into the world of San Andreas through your PC VR headset.
This intriguing mod, dubbed the ‘GTA San Andreas Definitive Edition – 6DoF UEVR Plugin,’ transforms the Steam version of the game, offering complete first-person VR along with six degrees of freedom for motion controls. Unfortunately, if you’re using the Epic Games Store or Rockstar launcher versions, you’ll miss out on the fun, as it’s not compatible with those.
The plugin builds on the Unreal Engine VR (UEVR) tool by ‘praydog’ but amps it up with features beyond the basics. Without this plugin, the game’s camera tends to dance around, automatically tracking CJ’s movements. But with Holydh’s addition, you gain control over all character movements—including crouching—vehicle driving (yes, jetpacks included), and even weapon handling with motion controllers. The mod refines camera settings for smoother cutscenes and lets you utilize sniper scopes effectively, making it possible to experience the entire game in VR without missing a beat.
Curious about how it looks in action? Holydh has generously shared a video demonstration to give you a taste of what’s in store.
You can download Holydh’s mod for free on Nexus Mods. To get started, you’ll need a legitimate Steam copy of the game and Praydog’s UEVR Nightly 01042 build, which is conveniently linked on the mod’s Nexus Mods page. If you’re wondering about system requirements, players with NVIDIA RTX 2080 graphics cards report a solid performance, but adjustable graphics settings mean you can tweak it for older GPUs too.
The modding project is open-source, and you can find it on GitHub for tinkering or sharing. However, a word of caution: Rockstar’s parent company, Take-Two, has a history of taking legal action against similar mods. This happened to Luke Ross’ acclaimed VR mods for GTA 5, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Mafia Definitive Edition in 2022. While those takedowns were financially motivated—due to paid access via Patreon—Holydh’s mod is free, making it a safer option for enjoying GTA: San Andreas in virtual reality.
For those waiting on an official VR release, the wait continues. The Quest version of GTA: San Andreas has been put on hold indefinitely. But until there’s an official announcement, this mod might just be your best—and only—virtual stop in San Andreas.
