NEWS · GAMES
PUBLISHEDFebruary 19, 2020
READING2 min
Grand Theft Auto IV returns to Steam next month, but without multiplayer
Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition is returning to Steam on March 19, 2020, but it'll be missing multiplayer and Games for Windows Live.
Back in January 2020, Grand Theft Auto IV vanished from the Steam store because Microsoft's old Games for Windows Live platform was no longer available.
Now, we finally know when the game will return to Steam — or any other digital storefront, for that matter.
Rockstar has updated GTA IV's official page on Steam, including the following guide:
For new players who don't already own a copy of the game:Starting March 19, 2020, Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition will replace the standalone Grand Theft Auto IV and Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City projects wherever they're digitally available. Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition will also be available via the Rockstar Games Launcher. Existing save files will be compatible with Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition.As a result of this update, the following services will no longer be available in Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition:Games for Windows Live Multiplayer LeaderboardsAdditionally, the following radio stations will be temporarily unavailable in Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition:RamJam FM, Self-Actualization FM, and Vice City FM (previously available in Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City)
Players who already own a copy of GTA 4:Players who previously installed and played Grand Theft Auto IV or Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City will be able to upgrade their copy to Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition in the following ways:Steam Users:Depending on the game, Steam players will need to install or update their current game:Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City will be removed and replaced with GTA IV: Complete Edition in the game library. The update file size is expected to be around 22 GB.Owners of the regular version will download content from Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City, and their game will be updated to GTA IV: Complete Edition. The update file size is expected to be around 6 GB.
Overall, this is great news. However, even if GTA 4's multiplayer wasn't exactly unique or incredibly exciting, its absence in the new version is still a bit perplexing and disappointing.
Most likely, Rockstar simply didn't bother porting the multiplayer mode to its own servers and just cut it from the new GTA 4 release.
The new Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition will be available for purchase and play starting March 19, 2020, on both the Rockstar Games Launcher and Steam.
