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Yes on Xbox Series X|S; no on PS5. Grand Theft Auto IV is available on Xbox Series X and Series S through Xbox backward compatibility. Series X accepts a compatible Xbox 360 disc or a digital entitlement, while the disc-free Series S requires a digital copy. A PlayStation 3 GTA IV disc cannot be used in a PS5, and the official material currently identifies no PS4 or PS5 edition of the game.
That makes the Xbox Series family the current-console route for GTA IV. Your choice of console determines whether you can use an existing disc, whether you must buy digitally, and how you obtain the main game and its story expansions.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Grand Theft Auto IV - PlayStation 3 (Renewed) | $22.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3) | $13.90 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Grand Theft Auto IV | $15.21 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Grand Theft Auto IV & Episodes from Liberty City: The Complete Edition | $76.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City - Playstation 3 | $25.76 | Buy on Amazon |
GTA IV compatibility at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can GTA IV run on PS5? | No. PS5 does not support PlayStation 3 discs, and no official PS4 or PS5 edition is identified in the cited catalog material. |
| Can GTA IV run on Xbox Series X? | Yes, through backward compatibility. You can use a digital Xbox entitlement or a compatible Xbox 360 disc. |
| Can GTA IV run on Xbox Series S? | Yes, through backward compatibility, but only digitally because Series S has no disc drive. |
| Do the episodes work? | Xbox’s compatibility announcement covers Episodes from Liberty City, including The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony. |
| What does it cost? | The Xbox store listing showed a $19.99 base digital price at the 2026 page crawl. Prices, bundles, regional availability and physical-disc stock can change. |
GTA IV originally launched for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on April 29, 2008. The current compatibility path is not a native PS5 remaster; it is Microsoft’s backward-compatibility version of the Xbox 360 release.
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How GTA IV works on Xbox Series X|S
Xbox Wire announced on February 9, 2017 that Grand Theft Auto IV and Episodes from Liberty City became playable on Xbox One through backward compatibility. The announcement states that “All versions of the game, including Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition, are compatible on Xbox One.” Xbox Series X|S supports Xbox One backward-compatible titles, and the current Xbox listing identifies Grand Theft Auto IV as playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
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- Disc only. Original case and manual not included. Will come packaged in a generic case.
- This renewed game has been cleaned, tested, and shows minimal wear.
In practical terms, the Series console uses the Xbox backward-compatibility package rather than requiring a new Series-specific edition. Your license determines how you start the installation:
- Digital owners: sign in with the Microsoft account that owns the game, then find GTA IV in the console’s Ready to Install list or in the Xbox store and begin the download.
- Xbox 360 disc owners on Series X: insert the disc. Xbox Wire says the console downloads the compatible game, while the physical disc remains needed to verify ownership when you play.
- Series S owners: use a digital purchase or another digital entitlement. The console has no optical drive, so an Xbox 360 disc cannot be used as the license.
Playing a physical Xbox 360 disc on Series X
Series X is the only member of the current Xbox Series family that can use the original Xbox 360 GTA IV disc. The procedure is straightforward, but the disc is not simply copied and then discarded.
- Turn on the Series X and sign in to the Xbox account you intend to use.
- Insert the Xbox 360 GTA IV disc into the console’s disc drive.
- Accept the prompt to download the backward-compatible version.
- Leave the disc available. The installed game checks the disc as proof that you own the physical license, so you must insert it whenever you launch the disc-based copy.
- Start the game from My games & apps after installation finishes.
The disc must be a compatible Xbox 360 release. Xbox Wire’s announcement specifically includes GTA IV and the Complete Edition, but it does not turn a PlayStation 3 disc into an Xbox license. A PS3 disc therefore cannot be used on any Xbox console.
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- Improved combat system - Now you can use cover and also a target lock system, which allows you to take out targets with greater ease and accuracy. Plus, you can engage in some hand-to-hand combat if you can't get your hands on a piece quick enough.
- Free time - In between missions you can take advantage of "me" time. There are gentleman's clubs, comedy clubs, bowling alleys, and bars, which all house unique activities.
- Take a break from the storyline - A variety of side missions allow you to help run a car service, "borrow" cop cars, assassinate targets, help solve problems for those on the street, or take to the air with stunt jumps that are scattered all over the city.
- Control your own fate - Throughout the game choice moments will arrive causing you to make a decision that will affect relationships and money
Playing GTA IV digitally on Series X or Series S
A digital entitlement is the simplest route on either Series console. It also is the only route on Series S.
- Open the Xbox store on the Series console and search for Grand Theft Auto IV.
- Alternatively, open My games & apps, choose Ready to Install, and look for the game on the account that purchased it.
- Check the product page and the included content before confirming a purchase. The store lists Rockstar Games as publisher, April 29, 2008 as the release date, and Xbox One/Xbox Series X|S support.
- Download and install the title. The digital license is tied to the purchasing account, so sign in with that account when installing or playing.
The base listing was shown at $19.99 when the Xbox page was crawled in 2026. That figure is a time- and region-specific listing, not a permanent price guarantee. Store pricing, taxes, bundle contents and availability may differ by country and may change without notice.
What happens on PS5
PS5 cannot read a GTA IV PlayStation 3 disc. PlayStation’s PS5 backward-compatibility documentation explicitly says, “PS5 consoles do not support PlayStation®3 discs.” Because GTA IV’s original PlayStation release is the PS3 version, inserting that disc into a PS5 will not install or authenticate the game.
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- Carry on the Grand Theft Auto tradition playing through the single player campaign as Niko Bellic
- Get cars and other modes of transportation anyway you can
- Interact with various colorful characters who give you various missions to engage in
- Engage in multiplayer challenges ranging from cover matches to shoot-outs, System Specification: Windows Vista SP 1 / Windows XP SP 3, Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8GHz, AMD Athlon X2 64 2.4GHz, 1.5GB, 256MB Nvidia
- Game Rated 'M' due to Intense Violence, Blood, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Partial Nudity, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
The cited official catalog material also does not identify a PS4 or PS5 edition of GTA IV. That means there is no established digital PS5 version to buy through the current PlayStation catalog described here. Do not treat a PS3 listing, a used PS3 disc or an unverified store rumor as a PS5 release.
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Rockstar’s backward-compatibility announcement carries GTA IV and Episodes from Liberty City forward to Xbox Series X|S. It does not announce a PS5 port. No cited announcement confirms a future remaster, so a PS5 owner should not buy hardware or a disc on the assumption that an upgrade is coming.
Which editions and expansions are covered?
The Xbox compatibility announcement covers the main Xbox 360 game and the versions identified as Episodes from Liberty City. The relevant story content is:
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- Includes: Grand Theft Auto IV and episodes: The Lost and the Damned & The Ballad of Gay Tony
- Grand Theft Auto IV: the base Liberty City campaign.
- The Lost and Damned: the first story expansion.
- The Ballad of Gay Tony: the second story expansion.
- Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition: Xbox Wire says all versions, including this edition, are compatible on Xbox One; the Series consoles inherit that Xbox One compatibility path.
Exact bundle contents can vary between a standalone listing and an edition that packages the episodes. Read the current Xbox product description before buying, especially if you already own one expansion or are trying to obtain the complete story collection.
PS5 versus Xbox Series X|S: decision table
| Factor | PS5 | Xbox Series X | Xbox Series S |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official GTA IV route described by current sources | No PS3-disc support; no PS4/PS5 edition identified | Xbox backward compatibility | Xbox backward compatibility |
| Physical Xbox 360 disc | Not applicable; PS5 cannot read PS3 discs | Supported with the disc inserted for ownership verification | Not supported; no disc drive |
| Digital Xbox copy | Not applicable | Supported | Required for this console |
| Episodes from Liberty City | No cited PS5 version | Covered by the Xbox compatibility announcement | Covered digitally through the Xbox compatibility path |
| Price and stock | No current PS5 edition established | Xbox store base listing was $19.99 at the 2026 crawl; physical stock varies | Xbox store base listing was $19.99 at the 2026 crawl; digital pricing varies |
Buying guidance by situation
You own an Xbox 360 disc
Choose Series X if you want to keep using that disc. Insert it to trigger the compatible download, and keep it available for launch verification. Buying Series S would require purchasing a digital copy instead because the console cannot read the disc.
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Use the same Microsoft account on Series X or Series S and check Ready to Install. If the title is not shown, open the Xbox store while signed into the purchasing account and review the current listing and regional availability.
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- Brings the interweaving Grand Theft Auto IV stories of Niko Bellic (main game), Johnny Klebitz (The Lost and Damned) and Luis Lopez (The Ballad of Gay Tony) to an explosive conclusion.
- Contains The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony, on one disc. These were originally digital content releases for GTAIV that were unavailable to PS3 players.
- Both games are standalone releases that do not require the original Grand Theft Auto IV game, or an Internet connection for their single player campaigns. (multiplayer modes are online)
- Complete your Grand Theft Auto IV experience with powerful new weapons, vehicles, music, features and new mission types.
- Each episode contains both a single player campaign as well as a variety of online multiplayer modes specific to the storyline of each.
You only own a PS3 disc
That disc does not solve the PS5 problem. Your practical choices are to keep access to a working PS3, move to an Xbox Series console with a digital Xbox copy, or use another platform that is officially supported for the edition you want.
You want every story episode
Look for the Complete Edition or a current bundle whose product description explicitly includes Episodes from Liberty City, The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony. Do not assume that a base-game listing automatically includes both expansions.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Buying a PS3 disc for PS5: PS5 does not support PS3 discs, so this purchase cannot provide a PS5 installation.
- Expecting Series S to accept a disc: Series S is digital-only. Select a digital listing before purchasing.
- Removing the Series X disc after installation: The download installs the compatible software, but the disc remains the ownership check for a disc-based license.
- Confusing backward compatibility with a remaster: The Xbox route is compatibility support for the Xbox 360 game, not a confirmed new PS5 or Series remake.
- Assuming prices are permanent: The $19.99 figure was a listing observed during a 2026 crawl. Regional pricing, promotions, taxes and stock can change.
- Assuming every bundle has identical content: Verify whether the listing includes the two episodes before checkout.
What to check before you buy
- Identify your console: Series X has a disc drive; Series S does not; PS5 cannot read PS3 discs.
- Identify your license: decide whether you are using an Xbox digital entitlement, an Xbox 360 disc or no existing copy.
- Check the exact store edition: confirm the title, supported consoles and episode contents on the current product page.
- Check your region: availability and price are not guaranteed to match another country’s store.
- Plan for installation: digital and disc-based Xbox copies download the compatible software; a disc owner must retain the disc for verification.
Bottom line for each console
Xbox Series X: the most flexible current-console option. It runs GTA IV through backward compatibility and accepts either a digital copy or a compatible Xbox 360 disc.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchXbox Series S: GTA IV works through the same compatibility program, but you must use a digital entitlement because there is no disc drive.
PS5: a PS3 disc will not work, and the cited official material does not establish a PS4 or PS5 release. Access to a PS3 or an Xbox Series console is required if you want to play GTA IV using the platforms documented here.
Availability, bundle contents, physical-disc stock and prices remain subject to change, so verify the listing for your region at the time of purchase.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
