Rockstar sacrifices Grand Theft Auto 4 multiplayer to solve Steam woes Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. Rockstar sacrifices Grand Theft Auto 4 multiplayer to solve Steam woes And it's now coming to the Rockstar Games Launcher. News by Emma Kent Contributor Updated on 19 Feb 2020 42 comments We've finally heard some news about Grand Theft Auto 4's place on the Steam Store today, but I'm afraid to say it's decidedly mixed, as Rockstar has announced it will return at the cost of multiplayer on PC platforms. Why on earth is this happening? Last month Grand Theft Auto 4 was delisted on Steam thanks to its reliance on the Games for Windows Live platform. Rockstar explained to USgamer it was unable to "generate the additional keys needed to continue selling the current version of the game", as Microsoft had officially ended support for Games for Windows Live. To solve the problem, Rockstar has now decided it will replace all versions of Grand Theft Auto 4 and Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City with Grand Theft Auto 4: Complete Edition "wherever it is currently digitally available", including Steam and the Rockstar Games Launcher. As a result of the problems with Games for Windows Live, multiplayer mode and leaderboards will no longer be available in Grand Theft Auto 4: Complete Edition. Sounds a bit incomplete to me, really, but here we are. Along with the loss of multiplayer, some radio stations from Episodes from Liberty City will become temporarily unavailable: including RamJam FM, Self-Actualization FM, and Vice City FM. The change is happening on 19th March, and everyone with a pre-existing copy of GTA 4 on Steam will have it updated to (or installed as) GTA 4: Complete Edition when connected to the internet. Those who bought a physical version of GTA 4, meanwhile, will be able to get the update by entering the key on the back of the box. The unfortunate souls who activated theirs through Games for Windows Live, meanwhile, will have to create or link a Social Club account to update to the new edition - and creating accounts now has to be done outside the game on Microsoft's website. Rockstar has also assured players that all current save files will be compatible with Complete Edition. If you want to figure out the update size files for each version, you'll find the details on the GTA 4 Steam page. Watch on YouTube It seems like a drastic measure to get the game relisted on Steam, but the tech problems are perhaps unsurprising given GTA 4 is now 12 years old - and at least some players will get a free upgrade to GTA 4: Complete Edition. Still, GTA 4 was seen by the community as the first to bring a fully-fleshed out multiplayer experience, so it's certainly a bittersweet moment. Also, I guess we now know GTA 4 is finally coming to the Rockstar Games Launcher, where it has previously been unavailable. Yay? Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! Support us View supporter archive More News Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 59 Modder dives into Demon's Souls files following PS5 jailbreak, discovers fabled Ring of the Chieftain Who knows what's nexus? 4 Google announces cloud gaming Chromebooks less than a fortnight after Stadia shutdown GeForce Now preinstalled. 11 Latest Articles Preview Football Manager's new Console edition is the best you'll get without a PC Getting Touch-right. Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 59 Modder dives into Demon's Souls files following PS5 jailbreak, discovers fabled Ring of the Chieftain Who knows what's nexus? 4 Supporters Only Premium only Off Topic: Take a minute to appreciate Cookin' with Coolio's incredible scallops recipe. What a great book. Premium only Off Topic: Reading City of Glass in comic form "Where exactly am I going?" Premium only Off Topic: Il Buco is a transporting film about a really big hole Underlands. Off-Topic Netflix handled Sandman brilliantly It was Dreamy. 9 Buy things with globes on them And other lovely Eurogamer merch in our official store! Explore our store