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Buy Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition if you want the full Liberty City single-player experience. It combines the original GTA IV campaign with The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony, and it is the current digital PC product. The original release only makes sense when you specifically want a collector’s physical copy, an original-console version, or you are investigating discontinued PC features.
There is an important catch: the modern PC edition is not a restoration of every feature from the old release. Rockstar’s 2020 transition removed Games for Windows Live, multiplayer and leaderboards. Your choice therefore depends on whether you value all three stories and current availability more than legacy online services.
What GTA 4 Complete Edition actually includes
Complete Edition is a bundle of three connected Liberty City campaigns:
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| Campaign | Playable lead | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Theft Auto IV | Niko Bellic | The main GTA IV story and its original version of Liberty City. |
| The Lost and Damned | Johnny Klebitz | A separate story told from the perspective of a motorcycle-club member whose events overlap the wider GTA IV timeline. |
| The Ballad of Gay Tony | Luis Lopez | A third perspective centered on Luis and nightclub owner Tony Prince. |
Rockstar’s 2010 retail announcement describes the package as GTA IV plus both Episodes from Liberty City. Steam’s current product description uses the same definition. The episodes are standalone campaigns rather than short add-ons that merely unlock a few missions inside Niko’s story, so the bundle materially expands the amount of single-player content available.
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- Includes: Grand Theft Auto IV and episodes: The Lost and the Damned & The Ballad of Gay Tony
The three viewpoints are designed to intersect. Playing the episodes after GTA IV can make those connections easier to follow, although the package does not require you to finish the campaigns in a particular order. Complete Edition is therefore the simplest way to obtain the complete narrative set without tracking down separate products.
What “the original release” can mean
Comparisons become confusing because “original GTA IV” can refer to several different products:
- The 2008-era GTA IV base game: Niko Bellic’s campaign without either expansion.
- Separate PC digital products: GTA IV and Episodes from Liberty City were once sold as distinct listings.
- The 2010 console Complete Edition: A physical Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 bundle containing all three campaigns.
- An old PC disc or installation: A legacy copy that may depend on software and online services no longer used by the current PC product.
These versions are not interchangeable from a buyer’s perspective. A base-game copy gives you only Niko’s story. A console Complete Edition gives you the trilogy but is tied to its original console generation. The current PC listing consolidates the campaigns, while also changing the online-service situation.
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| Priority | Base GTA IV release | Complete Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Number of campaigns | One: Niko Bellic | Three: Niko, Johnny and Luis |
| Episodes from Liberty City | Not included | The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony included |
| Current PC digital status | Formerly a separate product; Steam’s 2020 notice says it was replaced by Complete Edition | Current Steam/Rockstar digital product |
| Legacy PC multiplayer and leaderboards | Not restored by buying an old copy | Removed in the modern PC transition |
| Best fit | Someone who already owns it and wants only Niko’s campaign | New buyers who want the full single-player package |
If you are buying GTA IV for the first time, the base game has no practical advantage for story content. Complete Edition includes everything in the base campaign and adds both episodes. The only reason to prefer the original product is a specific legacy-use case, not a lower content requirement that the current edition fails to meet.
How the 2020 PC transition changed the decision
Steam’s official update notice says Complete Edition replaced the separate GTA IV and Episodes from Liberty City digital products on March 19, 2020. Existing save files remain compatible. That means an owner of the older PC product does not need to abandon progress simply because the store listing changed.
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- Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition (PS3)
- This is the definitive GTA 4 experience - The highest rated game of all time is back with Grand Theft Auto IV & Episodes From Liberty City: The Complete Edition from Rockstar Games for Sony PS3.
- The only offering that provides the full Grand Theft Auto 4 experience!
- In The Lost and Damned, experience Liberty City as Johnny, a veteran member of The Lost, a notorious biker gang.
- The Ballad of Gay Tony injects Liberty City with an overdose of guns, glitz, and grime. As Luis Lopez, part-time hoodlum and full-time assistant to legendary nightclub impresario Tony Prince a.k.a. Gay Tony.
For an existing PC owner who wants the episodes, Rockstar Support says the game installs or updates to Complete Edition and downloads approximately 6 GB of Episodes from Liberty City content. Allow additional free space beyond the download itself so the installer can unpack and update files.
The transition also removed several legacy services:
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- PC multiplayer mode is no longer available.
- Leaderboards are no longer available.
The same Steam notice says RamJam FM, Self-Actualization FM and Vice City FM were temporarily unavailable at that time. That statement is a historical qualification from the transition notice, not a guarantee about the present status of every radio station. Do not buy Complete Edition on the assumption that it recreates the old PC service stack exactly.
Is Complete Edition worth it over the original?
For a first-time PC buyer
Yes. Complete Edition is the current digital listing and contains all three campaigns. It avoids the need to locate separate products and gives you the broadest single-player package in one purchase. The current store snapshot showed €19.99 on October 18, 2026; that is a region-specific price observed on that date and can change.
For someone who already owns GTA IV on PC
Update to Complete Edition if you want either episode. Steam says existing saves remain compatible, and Rockstar Support describes the update as supplying the Episodes content. If you only want to replay Niko’s campaign and do not care about the additional stories, there is no content reason to buy another copy.
For a buyer who cares about old PC multiplayer
Do not treat Complete Edition as a way to recover that feature. The official transition notice explicitly says multiplayer and leaderboards were removed. An old disc or an old account does not change what the current supported product provides. Any attempt to maintain a legacy setup should be considered a separate technical project, not a benefit included with a new purchase.
For a console collector or original-console player
A physical Complete Edition can be appropriate. Rockstar’s 2010 announcement covered Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 retail versions containing the base game and both episodes. Check the console generation, regional compatibility and disc condition before paying a collector’s premium. The 2010 suggested retail prices were $39.99 in North America, £34.99 in the United Kingdom and €49.99 in Europe; those are historical launch recommendations, not current used-market valuations.
PC requirements, activation and storage
Rockstar’s store lists these minimum requirements for the Windows version:
| Item | Listed minimum | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 | The store’s stated supported minimum; do not assume an older Windows installation is covered. |
| Memory | 2 GB RAM | A minimum requirement, not a promise of a particular frame rate or graphics setting. |
| Graphics | 256 MB Nvidia 7900 or ATI X1900-class GPU | The listed class of graphics hardware; actual results remain configuration-dependent. |
| Free storage | 22 GB | Reserve at least this amount before installation, with extra working room advisable for updates. |
| Activation | Internet connection and a Rockstar Games Social Club account | Required for initial activation even if your main purchase is made through Steam. |
These figures establish eligibility, not comparative performance. No authoritative benchmark establishes that Complete Edition runs materially better than the original PC release. CPU, GPU, drivers, operating-system configuration and game settings can all affect results, so choose the edition for its content and service status rather than an assumed performance upgrade.
How to buy and install the current PC edition
- Confirm the product name. In Steam or the Rockstar store, look for Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition rather than assuming an old GTA IV listing is still a separate purchase.
- Check your account. Initial activation requires internet access and a Rockstar Games Social Club account. Make sure you can sign in before starting the download.
- Check storage. The Rockstar store lists 22 GB of free disk space as the minimum. Keep additional room available for temporary installation files and updates.
- Install through your purchase platform. Steam owners should install or update the Complete Edition entry in their library. The launcher may request the Rockstar account used for activation.
- Allow the episode download to finish. Rockstar Support says an existing GTA IV owner downloads approximately 6 GB of Episodes from Liberty City content during the transition.
- Verify your saves. Steam’s transition notice says existing save files remain compatible. If a save is not detected, check that the launcher is using the same Windows user profile and account associated with the earlier installation before deleting or moving any files.
- Launch each campaign from the game menu. Confirm that GTA IV, The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony are all present before assuming the update is incomplete.
Can you still play GTA 4 multiplayer?
Not through the modern PC Complete Edition service. Steam’s March 19, 2020 notice states that multiplayer and leaderboards were removed along with Games for Windows Live. This is the most important limitation for buyers remembering the original PC release.
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- The original Grand Theft Auto IV 4 game
- The Lost and Damned
- The Balled of Gay Tony
The console bundle and the current PC product should therefore be evaluated primarily as single-player purchases. If online play is your deciding factor, do not infer availability from an old box, an archived screenshot or a previously owned account. The official transition notice is the relevant description of the current PC service configuration.
Should you buy Steam, an old disc or a console copy?
| Purchase route | Advantages | Risks and limits | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current PC digital Complete Edition | All three campaigns in the current listing; saves from the older PC product remain compatible according to Steam. | Requires internet activation and a Rockstar account; legacy multiplayer and leaderboards are removed. | Most new PC buyers. |
| Old PC disc or legacy digital copy | May appeal to collectors or owners preserving an older installation. | Separate legacy products were replaced, and old online services are not restored simply by owning the original media. | Experienced users with a specific preservation goal. |
| Physical PS3/Xbox 360 Complete Edition | Contains all three campaigns and represents the original 2010 retail bundle. | Requires the appropriate original console; inspect region and disc condition. | Collectors and original-console players. |
For ordinary PC play, an old disc adds complexity without adding story content. For a console collection, physical media can be the correct choice because the 2010 bundle is a distinct retail product. Decide first which platform you actually intend to use; then compare condition and availability within that platform.
What you give up when choosing the modern PC edition
The trade-off is concentrated in services rather than campaigns. You receive the complete three-story package, compatible saves and a current store listing, but you do not receive the old Games for Windows Live layer, multiplayer mode or leaderboards. The transition notice also recorded temporary radio-station unavailability, so buyers who remember the original soundtrack presentation should avoid assuming every legacy behavior is unchanged.
There is no published comparative performance statistic establishing a universal frame-rate or loading advantage for Complete Edition. A newer listing should not be marketed as a technical remaster. If your priority is smoother performance, evaluate your own hardware and configuration after installation rather than paying extra for an unverified improvement.
A practical decision checklist
- Choose Complete Edition on PC if you want Niko’s campaign plus both episodes.
- Choose an update if you already own GTA IV on PC and want the additional stories; your saves are stated to remain compatible.
- Choose a physical console Complete Edition if you collect PS3 or Xbox 360 games or intend to play on that hardware.
- Keep an old PC copy only for a clearly defined preservation reason; it is not a shortcut to restored multiplayer.
- Budget for internet activation, a Rockstar account and 22 GB of storage on PC.
- Ignore claims of guaranteed performance gains unless they are backed by a test using your hardware and settings.
Bottom line for each type of buyer
The complete single-player package makes Complete Edition the sensible default. It is the current PC product, includes GTA IV and both Episodes from Liberty City, and preserves existing saves during the Steam transition. The original release remains relevant mainly as a historical physical console bundle, a collector’s item or a legacy installation. Its old PC multiplayer and leaderboard features are not part of the modern service, so buyers should make the decision on story content and platform fit rather than nostalgia for discontinued online functions.
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