Rockstar is known for creating some of the most iconic games, yet many of these classics haven’t seen proper VR support. That’s where modder ‘Holydh’ steps in with a creative solution. He’s recently unveiled a modified UEVR plugin specifically for the PC version of GTA: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition (2021). This new addition brings the legendary 2004 title to life in PC VR headsets.
Dubbed the ‘GTA San Andreas Definitive Edition – 6DoF UEVR Plugin,’ this mod enhances the Steam version of the game, offering a complete first-person VR experience enhanced by 6DOF motion controls. However, there’s a small catch — it doesn’t support versions of the game from the Epic Games Store or Rockstar launcher.
Holydh’s mod builds upon the Unreal Engine VR (UEVR) plugin, originally crafted by ‘praydog’, and adds a host of new features beyond what that plugin alone offers. In the vanilla game, the camera automatically rotates to follow CJ, but with Holydh’s plugin, players gain more control.
It embraces all types of movements, including crouching on foot, and lets you take the wheel (or jetpack controls) for any vehicle. There are adjustments for camera comfort, automatic settings for cutscenes, and even motion-controlled weapons. Sniper scopes get a boost too, enabling you to fully dive into the game, immersing yourself from start to finish in VR.
Curious to see this mod in action? Thanks to Holydh, you can check out a demo of what it offers below.
To jump into the experience yourself, Holydh’s mod can be snagged for free over on Nexus Mods. While you’ll just need to own the Steam version of the game, there are a few additional steps. Notably, you’ll have to install Praydog’s UEVR Nightly 01042 build, direct links for which are conveniently provided on the Nexus Mods page.
Regarding system requirements, many users have reported successful runs using NVIDIA RTX 2080s, but don’t worry if your setup is older. There are various graphical settings you can tweak to optimize performance.
Keep in mind that while this modding project is open-source and available for tweaking on GitHub, caution is warranted. Rockstar’s parent company, Take-Two, has a history of legally challenging such mods. For instance, they took down several popular mods by Luke Ross, including ones for GTA 5, Red Dead Redemption 2, and the Mafia Definitive Edition, in 2022. Their action wasn’t directly against Ross, but rather towards Patreon, as he distributed early access to his mods in exchange for paid contributions.
Luckily, Holydh’s plugin doesn’t follow that model—it’s completely free. This might be your safest bet for ongoing access to GTA: San Andreas on PC VR.
Meanwhile, for those eagerly awaiting GTA: San Andreas on standalone VR headsets like the Quest, there’s some bad news; the release has been postponed indefinitely, so any official version is unlikely to arrive on that platform soon.
