GTA 4 returns to Steam on March 19 without multiplayer

(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Hey, everybody, Niko Bellic is aim back into town. Yep, Rockstar has announced that Grand Theft Machine 4 will return to Steam clean on March 19, 2020, but it bequeath be missing multiplayer and online leaderboards. Both are casualties of Microsoft no longer supporting Games for Windows Live (aka the devil), which is what GTA 4 ill-used to provide those services along PC previously.

That's not all that's missing, either, as the radio Stations of the Cross RamJam FM, Self-Actualization Atomic number 100, and Vice City FM will be temporarily unavailable. A historical shame as Frailty City FM had some proper '80s pop bangers—"Maneater" aside Hall & Oates will be sorely uncomprehensible. Hopefully those stations are back soon.

If you already own GTA 4 then you'll be able to download an update to keep playing from March 19. It's a necessary download as GTA 4 and its DLC, Episodes from Autonomy City, are being replaced with GTA 4: Complete Edition going forward. Information technology just puts the base spirited and DLC into a single package. Any existing save files you have should transfer to the early version without a hitch. Fingers crossed.

Getting the download should exist easy adequate if you have the game on Steam or through the Rockstar Games Launcher. However, if you own a physical copy it's a little more complex. "Games previously activated using Games for Windows Liveborn will require players to create and/or link their Social Society accounts in replacement of Games for Windows Live to update to Grand larceny Auto IV: Full-clad Edition," Rockstar writes on the Steam page. I don't enviousness anyone having to dress that.

If you haven't activated GTA 4 through Games for Windows Live then you'll impartial need to activate the key on the back of the manual to get the refreshing update. Though you should belik hold back until March 19 when the Utter Variation becomes available, as Rockstar says your download Crataegus laevigata be disrupted other.