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Buy Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition if you are a new player who wants the full Liberty City single-player experience. It combines the original Grand Theft Auto IV campaign with The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony, giving you three connected stories in one package. Choose an original Grand Theft Auto IV copy only when you deliberately want the Niko Bellic campaign by itself, a potentially cheaper base game, or a first-release collector item.

The short answer: Complete Edition is the better default purchase

The difference is not a graphics mode, difficulty setting, or minor bundle bonus. It is the amount of single-player content included. The original release contains only the Grand Theft Auto IV campaign, in which Niko Bellic is the protagonist. The Complete Edition contains that campaign plus both Episodes from Liberty City: The Lost and Damned, starring Johnny Klebitz, and The Ballad of Gay Tony, starring Luis Lopez.

Rockstar describes the package as a standalone retail title spanning three distinct stories. Its product description states: “The Complete Edition includes Grand Theft Auto IV and the Episodes – The Lost and Damned & The Ballad of Gay Tony.” Take-Two’s launch announcement describes the same combination as Grand Theft Auto IV with Episodes from Liberty City.

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For a first-time buyer, the decision is therefore straightforward: select Complete Edition unless the original is substantially cheaper for your platform or you specifically want a base-game-only copy. The original is a niche choice for collectors and for players who want to experience only Niko’s story.

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What each version contains

Version Included campaign(s) Playable protagonists Best fit
Original Grand Theft Auto IV Grand Theft Auto IV base campaign Niko Bellic Base-game-only playthroughs, lower-cost purchases, or collecting the first release
Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition Grand Theft Auto IV, The Lost and Damned, and The Ballad of Gay Tony Niko Bellic, Johnny Klebitz, and Luis Lopez New players who want the complete three-story single-player package

The two episodes are not cosmetic add-ons. Each is a separate campaign with its own protagonist and narrative perspective. Complete Edition places all three campaigns in the same overall Liberty City setting, so it is the practical choice when “GTA 4” means the whole single-player set rather than only the original Niko campaign.

Grand Theft Auto IV: the original campaign

The original edition is the Niko Bellic story that launched as Grand Theft Auto IV. Buying it gives you the base campaign and nothing from the two Episodes from Liberty City campaigns. If your goal is specifically to play Niko’s story without the additional episodes, this version does exactly that.

An original copy can also suit a collector who wants first-release packaging, a first-print item, or a physical shelf display. Those are ownership and collecting reasons rather than content advantages. The original edition does not become a three-campaign package simply because it is an authentic Grand Theft Auto IV release.

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The Complete Edition

Complete Edition adds both expansion campaigns to the base game:

  • The Lost and Damned: the Johnny Klebitz campaign.
  • The Ballad of Gay Tony: the Luis Lopez campaign.

Because all three stories are included, Complete Edition is the only one-purchase option in this comparison that covers the full set of Liberty City single-player campaigns. Rockstar has also presented it as a standalone retail title, so you do not need to own the original physical release in order to choose the complete package.

Does Complete Edition include the DLC?

Yes. In practical buying terms, “the DLC” in this comparison means the two Episodes from Liberty City campaigns, and both are included in Complete Edition. You receive The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony alongside the original Grand Theft Auto IV campaign.

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The word “DLC” can cause confusion because the episodes were also sold and distributed as Episodes from Liberty City. That naming does not change what is in Complete Edition: the base game and both episode campaigns are bundled together. The original Grand Theft Auto IV release does not include them.

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How much more content do you get?

Complete Edition changes the scope of the purchase from one campaign to three. You can play the Niko Bellic, Johnny Klebitz, and Luis Lopez stories as separate campaigns connected by the same Liberty City setting. Rockstar’s store copy uses the phrase “hundreds of hours of single-player gameplay,” but that is promotional language rather than an independently measured playtime figure. Treat it as an indication of breadth, not a guaranteed number of hours for every player.

The useful comparison is not a precise hour count. It is whether you would eventually want both episodes. If the answer is yes, buying Complete Edition at the outset avoids having to locate the episodes separately and gives you a single package for the entire single-player lineup. If you know that you want only Niko’s campaign, the extra campaigns may not justify a higher asking price.

PC ownership: what happens to existing owners?

PC ownership is the area where the two labels can be misleading. Rockstar Support says: “Grand Theft Auto IV owners will download content from Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City and their game will update to GTAIV: Complete Edition.” The current Steam listing is titled Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition and repeats that existing owners of Grand Theft Auto IV and Episodes from Liberty City receive the Complete Edition update.

That means a PC library entry may not continue to behave like two entirely separate modern storefront products. Rockstar’s stated download and update path moves existing ownership toward the Complete Edition presentation. A person who already owns Grand Theft Auto IV should check the account and launcher associated with that ownership before purchasing anything a second time.

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If you already own Grand Theft Auto IV on PC

  1. Open the same Steam or Rockstar-linked account that holds your game license.
  2. Look for the current Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition listing or the update offered for your existing installation.
  3. Allow the launcher or storefront to apply the available content update rather than immediately buying another copy.
  4. Check the installed game and library information to confirm which campaigns your account now lists.

Rockstar’s support index also records an expected 22 GB Steam update for players moving from Episodes from Liberty City to Complete Edition. That figure is a platform-specific operational detail, not a universal installation-size promise; available disk space and the exact download can vary by the ownership path and storefront state. Make room before starting a large update and verify the current requirement in your launcher.

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If you own Episodes from Liberty City on PC

The same migration guidance applies in the other direction. Rockstar documents a Complete Edition update path for existing Episodes from Liberty City owners. Rather than assuming that an old library label must be purchased again, open the account that owns the episodes and check for the current Complete Edition download or update.

Do not infer that a different account, a used physical key, or an unlinked installation has the same entitlement. The support statement concerns existing PC owners in the relevant storefront and account system. If the content does not appear, confirm that you are signed into the original account and then consult the platform’s ownership and activation support.

Console and disc considerations

Console behavior depends on the platform generation, the disc edition, and whether the console is running a backward-compatible version. Rockstar’s support index lists an Xbox One backward-compatibility update, but compatibility and installation behavior are platform-specific. A disc that works on one generation is not automatically evidence that every other console, digital storefront, or regional release will behave the same way.

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Before buying a used console copy, check four things:

  • Console generation: confirm that your exact console model supports the release you are considering.
  • Edition name: identify whether the case or listing says Grand Theft Auto IV, Episodes from Liberty City, or The Complete Edition.
  • Disc condition: inspect scratches, readability, and whether the original case contains the correct disc set.
  • Region and account rules: verify that the disc and any required downloadable content match your console account and region.

On physical media, the label matters more than a seller’s shorthand. “GTA 4” may refer only to the original game, while “Complete Edition” should indicate the base game plus both episodes. Ask for a photograph of the actual discs when a listing is unclear.

Price and value: how to compare fairly

There is no stable used-copy price that applies everywhere. Condition, platform, region, stock, seller, and whether the package is complete can change the price from one listing to the next. A low price for the original is meaningful only when you compare it with the current cost of obtaining both episodes separately or purchasing Complete Edition.

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Question Why it matters How to decide
Is the original copy materially cheaper? You may be paying less for one campaign, but still need the episodes later. Compare the total cost of the original plus both episodes with the Complete Edition price.
Are the episodes sold separately on your platform? Availability and packaging differ by storefront and console generation. Check the live storefront or physical listing for your exact platform.
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Do not treat an advertised price as permanent. Stock and second-hand pricing move over time, and a listing may be for the wrong platform or an incomplete package. Verify the edition name and contents at the moment of purchase.

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Which version should different buyers choose?

New players starting on PC

Choose the current Complete Edition listing. The PC storefront presentation is already centered on Complete Edition, and Rockstar describes an ownership-update path for existing Grand Theft Auto IV and Episodes from Liberty City owners. This gives you the clearest route to all three campaigns without relying on an older product label.

Players who want only Niko’s campaign

The original is reasonable when you have a firm base-game-only preference and the copy is cheaper for your platform. You are intentionally giving up the Johnny and Luis campaigns, so compare the saving with the likelihood that you will want the episodes later.

Players who want every single-player story

Buy Complete Edition. It is the only option in this comparison that includes Grand Theft Auto IV, The Lost and Damned, and The Ballad of Gay Tony together. You avoid tracking down two additional campaigns and receive the complete three-story package Rockstar advertises.

Collectors and first-release enthusiasts

Choose the original when the physical release, first-print packaging, or base-game presentation is the object of the purchase. This is a collecting decision, not a content-value decision. If you also want the episodes for play, obtain Complete Edition or the episode releases separately after confirming platform compatibility.

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Buyers considering a used console disc

Start with the exact console and edition, not the seller’s headline. Confirm that the disc set is complete, the condition is acceptable, and the platform supports the release. Complete Edition is preferable when you want all three stories; the original is acceptable when the base campaign alone is sufficient and the price reflects that limitation.

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A practical buying checklist

  1. Identify your platform: write down the exact PC storefront or console generation.
  2. Identify the edition: distinguish Grand Theft Auto IV from Episodes from Liberty City and The Complete Edition.
  3. Count the campaigns: Complete Edition must include the Niko, Johnny, and Luis stories; the original includes Niko only.
  4. Check existing ownership: on PC, sign into the account that already owns GTA IV or Episodes from Liberty City and look for the documented update path.
  5. Check storage: Steam users moving from Episodes from Liberty City should account for the expected 22 GB update noted by Rockstar Support.
  6. Verify compatibility: for consoles, confirm backward-compatibility support and the behavior of your physical or digital release.
  7. Compare total cost: include the price of any episodes you would need to buy later, not just the first disc or listing.
  8. Inspect used copies: confirm disc count, condition, case contents, region, and any activation requirements.
  9. Choose according to intent: select Complete Edition for the full package, or the original for a deliberate base-game or collector purchase.

Common buying mistakes and how to avoid them

Mistaking the original for the complete package

A listing that says only “GTA IV” may describe the original Niko campaign. Do not assume that every Grand Theft Auto IV disc includes the episodes. Look for the words The Complete Edition or explicit mention of both Episodes from Liberty City campaigns.

Buying the original first and budgeting for episodes later

This can be sensible when the original is clearly cheaper and you are uncertain about the extra stories. It can also cost more if the episodes are difficult to find on your platform. Before committing, check whether the two episodes are currently available through the same storefront or whether a Complete Edition purchase is the simpler route.

Purchasing a second PC copy unnecessarily

Rockstar’s support guidance says existing PC owners move through a Complete Edition download or update path. Check the account that owns the game before paying for a second license, particularly when the storefront already displays Complete Edition.

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Assuming console compatibility is universal

The Xbox One backward-compatibility update recorded by Rockstar is a platform-specific example, not a guarantee for every console generation. Confirm support for your exact hardware and release. Physical-disc behavior, digital ownership, and region rules can differ.

Using marketing playtime as a promise

The “hundreds of hours” wording on Rockstar’s store page is qualitative marketing language. Your actual playtime depends on how much story content and optional activity you complete. Use the number of included campaigns as the reliable value distinction, not a guaranteed hour total.

Why Complete Edition is the stronger long-term choice

The main advantage is completeness. You receive the original campaign and both expansions in one purchase, with three protagonists and three connected stories available from the same Liberty City setting. That matters if you want to understand the broader single-player package rather than stopping after Niko’s campaign.

It is also the safer choice when your future plans are uncertain. Buying the complete package removes the question of whether the episodes will remain easy to locate on your platform and avoids treating a later purchase as a separate project. The value is strongest when the price difference between editions is modest or when the episodes are otherwise hard to source.

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The original remains valid for a narrower purpose. It can reduce the initial cost when you want only the base campaign, and it can be the correct artifact for someone collecting first-release packaging. Those benefits are real, but they do not add the two missing campaigns.

Final decision

For most buyers, choose Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition. It includes Grand Theft Auto IV, The Lost and Damned, and The Ballad of Gay Tony, making it the complete three-story single-player package. On PC, Rockstar and Steam present existing ownership through a Complete Edition update and download path, so check your account before purchasing again. Choose the original only when you specifically want Niko’s campaign alone, find a clearly better total price, or are collecting the first release. Always verify current price, stock, edition, condition, and platform compatibility at checkout.

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.