Grand Theft Auto 4 is back on Microsoft’s bestsellers list for the first time since the game launched 18 years ago. GTA 4 takes place in Liberty City, the same setting as its predecessor, GTA 3.
The game’s story is told through the perspective of ex-soldier Niko Bellic, who arrives in Liberty City to escape his checkered past. Alongside his cousin Roman, Niko finds himself embroiled in the criminal underworld and discovers that the American Dream is not what he imagined. Following its April 2008 launch, GTA 4 was universally praised for its story, character narratives, and the open-world design of Liberty City. Although some of GTA 4‘s features were left on the cutting room floor, that did not stop Rockstar Games’ ambitious title from winning several Game of the Year accolades.
GTA 4 Remains One of Xbox’s Top Games
Despite launching over two decades ago, the legacy of GTA 4 has left its mark on current game sales charts. According to Microsoft’s top paid games chart, GTA 4 is listed alongside more recent releases, including Red Dead Redemption 2 and The Blood of Dawnwalker. The base version is currently listed at $19.99 on Microsoft’s storefront. Other Xbox 360 titles listed on the first page of the storefront’s charts include Call of Juarez: Gunslinger and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. Although it’s appearance on the Xbox bestseller list may be puzzling at first glance, Grand Theft Auto‘s fourth numbered entry is also playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S via backward compatibility.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Compared to the original Xbox 360 launch, the game’s loading times are much faster on Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One, as the latter consoles have more powerful hardware. Frame rates are also improved on Xbox Series X/S, though some glitches may still occur. Additionally, GTA 4‘s online multiplayer remains accessible in the Xbox version. Since the game does not have dedicated servers, players host session-based lobbies that use peer-to-peer network connections. Up to 16 players can join in an online session on consoles, with modes such as Team Deathmatch available to pick from. Although GTA Online has since become the mainstream multiplayer method for the franchise, GTA 4‘s multiplayer foundation still draws in dedicated players.
New Questions Added!
GameRant Quiz
The popularity of games from previous Xbox console generations is an element that Microsoft intends to carry into the future. According to rumors, Xbox’s Project Helix console is said to be backwards compatible with all previous Xbox consoles. Theoretically, Xbox 360 titles like GTA 4 could run on Microsoft’s next-gen system if the feature makes it to market. However, it is unclear if this includes physical game discs or digital releases only. With Xbox launching a disc-to-digital feature that converts Xbox One and Xbox Series X game discs into digital licenses, it remains to be seen what Microsoft has planned for titles launched on the 360 and the original Xbox system.
As for Rockstar Games, the highly anticipated GTA 6 will hit store shelves on November 19. Pre-orders for GTA 6 are currently available on the Microsoft Store and PlayStation Store, starting at $79.99.
- Released
-
April 29, 2008
- ESRB
-
M for Mature: Blood, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol