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 Edition will replace both Grand Theft Auto 4 and Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City wherever 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 the radio stations RamJam FM, Self-Actualization FM, and Vice City FM will also all be temporarily unavailable. This obviously a harsh blow to many Grand Theft Auto 4 players 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 own Grand Theft Auto 4 or its Episodes From Liberty City DLC will upgrade to the Grand Theft Auto 4: Complete Edition seamlessly. 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 Edition will also be making its way back to the Rockstar Games Launcher, so users accessing the title from there will receive the same benefits.
For many, this is no doubt a massive relief seen as Grand Theft Auto 4 is often heralded as one of the greatest games in all of Rockstar’s portfolio. Niko Bellick’s journey through the criminal underworld of Liberty City may 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 unique Grand Theft Auto games 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 Edition will return to Steam on March 19.
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