Rockstar Games, the entertainment juggernaut behind Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption, has quietly absorbed Video Games Deluxe, the Australian studio best known for developing the VR version of L.A. Noire. This is the same team that was, at one point, working on a now-abandoned Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas port for Meta’s Quest headset.
And what does that mean? Well, either Rockstar is gearing up for some serious VR ambitions, or they’re just consolidating talent like a dragon hoarding treasure—because they can.
The Ghost of GTA VR
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to carjack a virtual vehicle while being berated by Samuel L. Jackson’s iconic Officer Tenpenny in San Andreas, you’re not alone. Meta and Rockstar had announced the VR port of San Andreas for Quest headsets back in 2021, during a Facebook Connect event (back when Meta still called itself Facebook). Then, silence. No trailers, no leaks, just a gaping void where excitement used to be.
By late 2023, it became clear that the San Andreas VR port had been unceremoniously scrapped. Meta stopped mentioning it, and insiders whispered that the project had quietly died. Whether this was due to technical difficulties, budget constraints, or just a realization that nobody really wants to ride a virtual BMX bike in first-person remains a mystery.
Now, with Rockstar absorbing Video Games Deluxe, it raises the question: Was the project dead because of Meta, or because Rockstar wanted full control?
Rockstar’s VR Play
Rockstar has never been a company that rushes to embrace new technology unless there’s a clear profit motive. VR remains a niche market, with Meta’s Quest headsets leading the charge but still struggling to break into the mainstream gaming ecosystem. It’s telling that while L.A. Noire VR was an interesting experiment, Rockstar never followed up with any VR adaptations of its bigger franchises.
Could this acquisition signal a renewed interest in VR from Rockstar? Maybe. The L.A. Noire VR case files proved that their games could work in virtual reality, albeit in a slightly janky, “why are my hands floating in front of me?” kind of way. If Rockstar is serious about VR, then the acquisition of Video Games Deluxe might mean they want in-house expertise to build something from the ground up.
Or, more cynically, Rockstar might have just acquired the studio to keep a tight lid on any unfinished VR projects and prevent leaks. In a world where every GTA VI leak gets analyzed like the Zapruder film, Rockstar doesn’t like loose ends.
The Meta Connection (and Disconnection)
Meta’s metaverse ambitions have been a rollercoaster ride of expensive miscalculations, strategic pivots, and unclear decisions. They’ve poured billions into Reality Labs, the division responsible for Quest headsets and AR/VR initiatives, yet still struggle to make VR feel like the future rather than an elaborate tech demo.
Andrew Bosworth, Meta’s CTO, recently wrote a memo declaring that 2025 would be a “make-or-break” year for the company’s metaverse efforts. He described their work as being at the precipice of “visionary success or legendary misadventure.” That’s corporate-speak for: “If this doesn’t work, Zuck is going to start cutting off heads.”
In that context, Rockstar yanking San Andreas VR away from Meta might not be a coincidence. If Meta is floundering in VR gaming, Rockstar might have decided it was better to keep their own IP out of Meta’s mess and reassess later.
Grand Theft Auto in VR?
So, what’s next? Maybe Rockstar is gearing up for a full-fledged GTA VR experience, or maybe they just wanted to bring a capable VR team in-house. Maybe San Andreas VR will rise from the ashes under Rockstar’s watchful eye, or maybe it’s doomed to be another “what could have been” moment in gaming history.
Either way, Rockstar doesn’t make moves lightly. If they’re bringing VR talent into the fold, it’s not just for show. Stay tuned—this might be the start of something bigger. Or it might be nothing. But with Rockstar, it’s always worth watching.
