Rockstar Games Sets September 2025 Deadline for GTA 4 Save Files - Act Now or Lose Everything

Rockstar Games has revealed that they're pulling the plug on support for old Grand Theft Auto IV saves that were created through Games for Windows Live, Microsoft's now-defunct gaming service. This means that if you don't take action soon, you could lose years of gaming progress forever.

Starting immediately, the Rockstar Games Launcher will no longer automatically scan your computer for these legacy save files. While this might not sound like a big deal at first, it's actually the beginning of a complete phase-out and the timeline is pretty tight.

Players have until September 16, 2025, to use the automatic migration feature during game installation. After that date, the launcher won't be able to detect your old saves at all, meaning they'll essentially become invisible to the game unless you take manual action.

For those old enough to remember, this announcement brings back memories of the frustrating Games for Windows Live era. The service, which Microsoft launched in 2007 and eventually shut down, was notorious for its clunky interface and frequent technical issues. When GTA IV launched on PC in 2008, it required players to use this service, much to the chagrin of Grand Theft Auto fans.

The good news is that Rockstar isn't leaving players completely in the dark. They've provided a detailed step-by-step guide for manually transferring your save files to the new system. The process involves installing the Rockstar Games Launcher, locating your old save files in specific folders on your computer, and copying them to the new location.

What makes this situation particularly interesting is the timing. Industry insider Tez2, who has a solid track record of accurate predictions, mentioned possibilities of a re-release back in May, insisting that it isn't a remaster, by any means.

With Take-Two Interactive recently confirming that they already have plans for after Grand Theft Auto 6, it's only fair to wonder if this save migration deadline is connected to bigger plans for the game.

GTA IV was a massive game with countless hours of potential gameplay, and losing a save file could mean losing completion of the main story, side missions, downloadable content, collectibles, and achievements.

For younger gamers who might not understand the fuss, imagine losing all your progress in your favorite game overnight. That's exactly what could happen to GTA IV players who don't act before the deadline.

If you're unsure whether you have old GTA IV saves, it might be worth checking your computer just in case. Look for folders named "savegames" in your Rockstar Games directories. Even if you haven't played in years, those files might still be sitting there.

Who knows? You might be reminded of a time when you played GTA IV and made some pretty decent progress with Niko Bellic only to stop midway for some reason. This could be your chance to revisit the criminally underrated 2008 title, warts and all.

While September 2025 might seem far away, tech deadlines have a way of sneaking up on us. Don't be the player who realizes too late that their Liberty City adventures are gone forever.

Speaking of GTA, Rockstar is giving away over a million to Grand Theft Auto Online players until September 17. Finally, two out of three of the protagonists of Grand Theft Auto V recently reunited in an ad for ASUS ROG.