After disappearing unceremoniously from Steam last month, many of Rockstar’s biggest fans wondered whereGrand Theft Auto 4had gone and when it would possibly be back. While rumors seemed to surround the idea thatRockstarhad decided to make the game an exclusive on its own PC marketplace, it turned out that the issue was with the now no longer supported Windows Live Service that was attached to the game.
Luckily, it appears fans now know when the popular title will be back on the Steam storefront, however, it appears its new release will come with a few missing features. Taking to the game’s Steam page, Rockstar stated that “Starting [March 19],Grand Theft Auto 4: Complete Editionwill replace bothGrand Theft Auto 4andGrand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty Citywherever it is currently digitally available.”
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The studio went on to claim that multiplayer and leaderboards will unfortunately not be coming back along with the game’s return, while theradio stations RamJam FM, Self-Actualization FM, and Vice City FMwill also all be temporarily unavailable. This obviously a harsh blow to manyGrand Theft Auto 4players on Steam, with the game’s community still frequently playing together online. While it’s a small price to pay to see the game return to the marketplace, it will no doubt close the door on one of the most popular multiplayer modes in Steam’s history.
It appears some good news, however, is that players who currently ownGrand Theft Auto 4or itsEpisodes From Liberty CityDLC will upgrade to theGrand Theft Auto 4: Complete Editionseamlessly. According to the press release, even player’s save data will survive the transition to the new system, meaning they can jump right back in where they left off after the major update.The Complete Editionwill also be making its way back to theRockstar Games Launcher, so users accessing the title from there will receive the same benefits.
For many, this is no doubt a massive relief seen asGrand Theft Auto 4is often heralded as one of the greatest games in all of Rockstar’s portfolio.Niko Bellick’s journey through the criminal underworld of Liberty Citymay have first been met with some criticism due to its far darker tone, but over time, its grittier reputation has made it one of Rockstar’s most uniqueGrand Theft Autogames to date. While its multiplayer mode will no doubt be missed, its return to Steam will be a massive relief to its wide fanbase.
Grand Theft Auto 4: The Complete Editionwill return to Steam on March 19.
