GTA San Andreas VR On Hold As Meta Reality Labs Reckons With $16B In Losses

Meta Platforms Inc's (NASDAQ:META) has shelved its ambitious plan to bring “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas” into the world of virtual reality.

What Happened: The Facebook and Instagram parent company is putting the VR remake of the classic Rockstar Games title “on hold indefinitely” after three years of anticipation.

In a statement provided to IGN, a Meta spokesperson confirmed the indefinite delay. The official Meta Quest VR YouTube account echoed this development, responding to user comments on a trailer for the upcoming VR game, Behemoth by Skydance Games.

“GTA: San Andreas is on hold indefinitely while we both focus on other projects,” the account confirmed. “We look forward to working with our friends at Rockstar in the future.”

See Also: GTA 5’s ‘Kick A–‘ Story Canceled Due To Cash Cow Success Online, Says Former Dev

Why It Matters: The delay is a significant blow to Meta’s virtual reality aspirations.

The company initially announced the VR version of “GTA: San Andreas” during Facebook Connect back in October 2021. Recall how the Menlo Park, California-based conglomerate aggressively pursued a VR-driven future.

The game was described as “a project many years in the making,” yet no gameplay footage or release window was ever revealed.

Meta's VR division, Reality Labs, is reportedly hemorrhaging money, with losses totaling $16 billion in 2023 alone.

These financial struggles have likely played a role in Meta's decision to put the project on hold, as the company reassesses its priorities in a rapidly changing market.

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