What you need to know
- Grand Theft Auto IV can no longer be purchased on Steam.
- This is due to Grand Theft Auto IV needing Games For Windows Live.
- Microsoft ended support of Games For Windows Live in 2014.
- Rockstar Games is currently looking into other options.
If you have not yet purchased Grand Theft Auto IV on Steam, we've got some bad news. While the Steam page for the game is still up, you can no longer purchase it. As it turns out, this is due to the game using Games for Windows Live. Despite Microsoft ending support for Games For Windows Live several years ago, Grand Theft Auto IV still somewhat relied on the service. Now, it is no longer possible for new game keys to be distributed, according to Rockstar Games.
PR from Rockstar Games told The Verge that "Grand Theft Auto IV was originally created for the Games For Windows Live platform," and that "With Microsoft no longer supporting Games For Windows Live, it is no longer possible to generate the additional keys needed to continue selling the current version of the game. We are looking at other options for distributing GTAIV for PC and will share more information as soon as we can."
We'll have to wait and see what happens. In the meantime, if you already own Grand Theft Auto IV and have been playing it, you should continue to be able to play it without any issues.
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Samuel Tolbert is a freelance writer covering gaming news, previews, reviews, interviews and different aspects of the gaming industry, specifically focusing on Xbox and PC gaming on Windows Central. You can find him on Twitter @SamuelTolbert.
