Grand Theft Auto IV, also known as Grand Theft Auto 4 or GTA 4, is a 2008 open-world action game in the Grand Theft Auto series. Developed by Rockstar North and Rockstar Toronto and published by Rockstar Games, it follows Niko Bellic, a veteran who moves to Liberty City after his cousin Roman promises him a new life in America. 1

Release and platforms

GTA IV launched for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on April 29, 2008. 2 The PC version followed on December 2, 2008. 3

Take-Two reported sales of more than US$310 million on the first day and US$500 million during the first week, making it the company's biggest launch at the time. 4 The series later continued with Grand Theft Auto V.

Story and setting

Niko arrives in Liberty City hoping to leave his past behind and join Roman, only to find that his cousin's stories of wealth were exaggerated. Roman's debts pull them into the city's criminal underworld, while Niko pursues unfinished business from the war he survived. 1

The game rebuilds Liberty City as a dense interpretation of New York City spread across several boroughs and the neighboring state of Alderney. The story follows Niko's work for criminals across the city and the relationships he forms along the way.

Episodes from Liberty City

The story continues through two connected expansions. The Lost and Damned follows biker Johnny Klebitz, while The Ballad of Gay Tony follows Luis Lopez. Their stories overlap with Niko's campaign and show the same events from different parts of Liberty City's criminal world. Both expansions are included with the base game in Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition. 5

Current availability

On PC, Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition is available through the Rockstar Games Launcher and Steam. Rockstar updated the PC release in 2020 to combine the base game and both episodes and remove the Games for Windows Live requirement. 6

The Xbox 360 versions of GTA IV, The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony are playable on Xbox One and later Xbox consoles through backward compatibility. 7

References

  1. Grand Theft Auto IV, Rockstar Games. Accessed August 11, 2026.

  2. Grand Theft Auto IV Release Date, Take-Two Interactive, published January 24, 2008. Accessed August 11, 2026.

  3. 2008 Annual Report, Take-Two Interactive. Accessed August 11, 2026.

  4. Grand Theft Auto IV Breaks Entertainment Launch Records, Take-Two Interactive, published May 7, 2008. Accessed August 11, 2026.

  5. Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition, Rockstar Store. Accessed August 11, 2026.

  6. GTAIV: Complete Edition Now Available on the Rockstar Games Launcher and Steam, Rockstar Games, published March 24, 2020. Accessed August 11, 2026.

  7. Grand Theft Auto IV and Episodes from Liberty City Playable on Xbox One with Backward Compatibility, Rockstar Games, published February 9, 2017. Accessed August 11, 2026.