Has Meta pulled the plug on GTA: San Andreas VR?
Choosing your favourite Grand Theft Auto game is a bit like choosing favourite episode of The Simpsons - there are just too many good ones to pick from. While most of the conversation is taken up by the record-breaking success of GTA V or fans looking ahead to GTA 6, there are some golden oldies out there.
Back when GTA was finding its feet, the 3D Universe days are held by some as the franchise's peak. Alongside the likes of GTA III and Vice City, there's a lot of love for GTA: San Andreas and Carl "CJ" Johnson. With that in mind, we were over the Moon to hear about GTA: San Andreas VR for the Meta Quest.
We're worried about GTA: San Andreas VR
Click to enlargeAnnounced during 2021's Connect livestream, Meta confirmed San Andreas VR for the Meta Quest. Hoping to join L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files, it could be a big move into an untapped medium for the GTA overlords, but unfortunately, things have gone mysteriously quiet on GTA: San Andreas VR.
As reported by RockstarINTEL, there's a worrying update (or lack of) on GTA: San Andreas VR. Road to VR grilled Meta at Connect 2023 and was told, "We don’t have any updates to share on GTA: San Andreas." UploadVR got a similar response and was given a solid "no comment."
Even though it's important to note Meta hasn't swung the scythe yet, it's not exactly good news when it comes to GTA: San Andreas. Then again, if it were cancelled, Connect 2023 would've been the most likely place to announce it. Most likely, the game has fallen into development hell.
Rockstar reportedly on a cancelling spree
Click to enlargeOf course, Rockstar has been on uneven ground recently - making GTA: San Andreas VR a potential causality. As Connect 2023 ends without so much as an acknowledgement that things have moved in two years, we won't be sketching this one in for a surprise release before the end of 2023.
It's no secret that Grove Street Games' Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Addition wasn't just a disappointment due to its overly complicated name. The GTA Trilogy could've been a cash cow that milked three of the franchise's best-loved outings for easy money, but that wasn't the case at all.
When the GTA Trilogy was released in 2021, it was slammed for everything from graphics to glitches, leading to refunds galore. There are rumours of a Butterfly Effect that possibly canned Red Dead Redemption and GTA IV remasters. There's also whatever happened to Bully 2 (if you believe the whispers).
We did hear about a mystery VR game from Rockstar, but if they can't even get out San Andreas, what hope do we really have? Whether GTA: San Andreas VR will ever see the light of day remains to be seen. If it does, here's hoping we'll have a GTA 6 release date by then.
