After getting delisted from Steam suddenly last month, Rockstar is apparently ready to bring Grand Theft Auto IV back to digital storefronts once more. Just as many assumed, the game was pulled due to licensing issues, along with compatibility problems that resulted from using the now-defunct Games for Windows Live service. On March 19th, GTA IV will return, now titled as "Grand Theft Auto 4: Complete Edition", packed in with the downloadable content of Episodes from Liberty City. This version of the game will be available on Rockstar's new game launcher as well as Steam, though some important changes have been made to the game, such as removing Games for Windows Live, online multiplayer features, and the game's leaderboards, while certain in-game radio stations will be removed "temporarily".

If you already owned the game on Steam prior to its takedown, you'll need to update your current version of GTA IV on March 19th, where it'll be replaced by the new Grand Theft Auto 4: Complete Edition. If you activated the game via Games for Windows Live back in the day, you'll now be required to use your Rockstar Social Club account instead.

We are making a number of changes to make sure players who own Grand Theft Auto IV and GTA: Episodes from Liberty City can continue to enjoy these games.

New Players
Starting 03/19/2020, Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition will replace both Grand Theft Auto IV and Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City wherever it is currently digitally available. Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition will as also be available via the Rockstar Games Launcher.
Current game 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 mode
  
• Leaderboards

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)

Note: Because Japanese is a supported language for Grand Theft Auto IV, but is not supported for Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City, players will continue to be able to play Grand Theft Auto IV with Japanese sub-titles but will need to select another language in order to play Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City.
Current Players
Players who have previously installed and played Grand Theft Auto IV or Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City will be able to update their copy to Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition through the following means:
Steam Users
Depending on the game, players on Steam will need to install or update their current game:

• Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City will be removed and replaced with GTAIV: Complete Edition in the launcher library. Update file size is expected to be approximately 22GB
  
• Grand Theft Auto IV owners will download content from Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City and their game will update to GTAIV: Complete Edition. Update file size is expected to be approximately 6GB 

Physical Media

• Games not previously activated using Games for Windows Live will be able to use the Key on the back of the game manual to activate and update to Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition

Games for Windows Live Digital Store Purchases

• Games previously activated using Games for Windows Live will require players to create and/or link their Social Club accounts in replacement of Games for Windows Live to update to Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition

Note: New activations from players trying to install current copies of Grand Theft Auto IV may be disrupted until Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition is available. All users will need to be connected to the internet and authenticate their copy of the game.

Source

 

[DANTENDO]

Lol Shittttttttt again for a second I thought you found some breaking news on gta6

 

[HaloEffect17]

I saw Sans multiplayer and immediately thought of Sans from Undertale lol.

 

[AlanJohn]

"Complete Edition" that deosn't have multiplayer and removes entire radio stations. Lmao!

Glad they at least removed GWL, now the game might be playable without patches.

 

[Silent_Gunner]

the game might be playable without patches.

 

[boomario]

Will probably come with hundred of game breaking bugs, as always with rockstar re-releases.

 

[kumikochan]

LMAO they not wanting to use servers themselves for multiplayer support so they blame it on Microsoft. Yeah right, we all know that is bullshit. It would be quite an easy feat to open up servers themselves but they rather not want a competitor to GTA V that has more micro transaction money flowing in compared to a more free experience. We all know it has to do with that and that alone

 

[DANTENDO]

Will probably come with hundred of game breaking bugs, as always with rockstar re-releases.

If you don't want bugs in yr games go play simple made games like solitaire

 

[boomario]

If you don't want bugs in yr games go play simple made games like solitaire

Of course, because bugs that doesn't allow players to complete story are super normal and expected in games, right? Well, i will just accept that i can't finish the game i paid for and go play Solitaire then.

 

[Arras]

LMAO they not wanting to use servers themselves for multiplayer support so they blame it on Microsoft. Yeah right, we all know that is bullshit. It would be quite an easy feat to open up servers themselves but they rather not want a competitor to GTA V that has more micro transaction money flowing in compared to a more free experience. We all know it has to do with that and that alone

Or they don't want to invest money removing all GFWL dependencies and functionality from the multiplayer, testing to make sure it works properly, and paying to host servers, for a game they make basically no money on anymore.

 

[MaxiBash]

"Complete Edition"
[Removes and changes content in the meantime]

 

[raxadian]

So is a grand theft of the player then.

 

[Jayro]

Oh good, I'm glad they fixed the games for Windows live shit... I bought the game and gave up trying to get it to work, and had to result to pirating a game that I bought just to play it. Now I can finally play it legit!

 

[simbin]

Wait, I already own this.. does that mean if I re download, it will have the music stripped, and no more achievements through GFWL? What a joke if true!

 

[simbin]

"Microsoft’s awful Games For Windows Live technogubbins is being removed because it caused the trouble in the first place, and that’s great news."

Does that mean we can finally expect a solid 60fps on modern hardware?

 

[guisadop]

aw, GTA IV multiplayer was really good IMO, though it's been some time since I last played.

 

[Joe88]

Well at least you can still go bowling with cousin roman.

 

[Deleted User]

multiplayer in IV was better than V, and you'll have a hard time changing my mind

they also release a complete edition that has less content than the legacy edition lmao, good thing i have copious amounts of backups anyway because modding ur shit needs backups

Or they don't want to invest money removing all GFWL dependencies and functionality from the multiplayer, testing to make sure it works properly, and paying to host servers, for a game they make basically no money on anymore.

if modders can do it for free then why can't rockstar lmao
they could also have changed it to use steam servers or peer to peer, not that hard or money intensive

 

[MadMakuFuuma]

vice city fm? serious? and thats why i have "alternative" copies of my games, even if i have the originals on steam/epic or whatever. and no, is not that simple to reinsert a music back in the game (yes, we have independence... but without the hilarious comments, is not the same)
"complete edition" my ass!

Wait, I already own this.. does that mean if I re download, it will have the music stripped, and no more achievements through GFWL? What a joke if true!

yep, pretty sure... i lnow for a fact that my GTA IV, after the infamous 1.0.0.8 update, removed some music (for example, steve nicks's age of seventeen).

 

[Stealphie]

Well, atleast people can buy/play the game now,i suppose.
But removing the multiplayer is shit

 

[FGFlann]

This is why they should have just kept making original music like they did for GTA3 instead of all this licensed junk. Entertaining and no license required. You can't lose.