Warnings
- For Games for Windows - LIVE on Windows 8 or later, install the latest Games for Windows - LIVE software.
General information
- GTAForums - Grand Theft Auto IV Discussion
- GTA Modding - A wiki hosting mod-information for the Grand Theft Auto series.
- GTA Network - A huge network of fansites all dedicated to the Grand Theft Auto series.
- Rockstar Support
- Steam Community Discussions
Availability
- Rockstar Social Club is not needed to run the game using retail patches 1.0.6.0, 1.0.7.0, or 1.0.8.0.[4]
- The Complete Edition includes Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City.
- The March 2020 update to the Steam version upgraded the game to the Complete Edition, adding achievements, introducing Rockstar Games Launcher DRM and removing multiplayer[5], SecuROM PA DRM and Games for Windows - LIVE DRM entirely (see Network for solutions).
- CD keys can be redeemed on the Rockstar Games Launcher to activate the Complete Edition.[6]
DLC and expansion packs
- The Complete Edition includes the DLCs now. All previously bought copies on Steam were freely upgraded to that version, and original retail versions can be freely upgraded to the Complete Edition by registering a Games for Windows - LIVE key on Rockstar Games Launcher.
Name |
Notes |
|
The Ballad of Gay Tony |
|
|
The Lost and Damned |
|
|
Essential improvements
Patches
- Patches after 1.0.8.0 were released only for the game's digital versions. Although the first numbered upgrade was referred as "1.20", subsequent versions of the game adopted a "1.2.x.x" model.
- Can vastly improve the game's performance.
Install DXVK[7]
|
- Install DXVK to
<path-to-game>\GTAIV .
- Create a text file, name it
dxvk.conf , and add d3d9.maxFrameLatency = 1 to it to avoid or reduce occasional frame skipping and stuttering[8]
- Add
d3d9.presentInterval = 1 to the file, which forces using DXVK's Vsync implementation. This may give less CPU overhead compared to the game's own Vsync implementation.
- Add
d3d9.numBackBuffers = 3 to the file. This may further improve frametime stability while using Vsync.
Notes:
- The game may wrongly detect the amount of VRAM available and only show 512 MB instead while using DXVK.
- The game may not use the desired resolution and refresh rate while using DXVK. Use the respective commands to remedy this.[9]
|
Ultimate ASI Loader is the primary tool used by the game's modding community to allow players to load mods into the game.
- Included with FusionFix.
- Fixes various gameplay and visual issues, includes an accurate, adjustable frame rate limiter, and restores and improves broken shaders which were lost or broken as a result of porting from consoles to PC[11]
- Includes Ultimate ASI Loader.
- Supports both the Complete Edition and retail versions 1.0.7.0 and 1.0.8.0.
- Shader fixes and improvements performed utilizing Shader Fixes.
Installation
|
- Go to Releases and download latest version.
- Extract the contents of the archive to
<path-to-game>\GTAIV\
|
Game data
In-game general settings.
Configuration file(s) location
- Configuration files are encrypted. See Command line parameters for an alternative.
Save game data location
- If a Complete Edition save is not detected, Rockstar Games Launcher offers to search for retail (Games For Windows - LIVE) saves and import them.
- On retail patches,
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\XLive
must also be backed up; the save data is bound to the Games for Windows - LIVE profile.
- See GTASnP to convert Complete Edition saves to retail-compatible saves.
System |
Native |
Notes |
OneDrive |
|
Requires enabling backup of the Documents folder in OneDrive on all computers. |
Steam Cloud |
|
|
- Uses Rockstar Games Launcher cloud saves for the Complete Edition.
- Rockstar Games' cloud saves can be disabled while playing the game in Online Mode using the overlay's menu.
Video
Input
In-game key map settings.
In-game keyboard/mouse settings.
In-game gamepad settings.
Mouse deadzone
- The game has a non-toggleable mouse deadzone that makes it really hard to aim at low DPI values.[14]
DirectInput controller support
Enable support in in-game options[17]
|
- Open the in-game Options menu.
- From the list which appears, select Controls.
- Click Enable DirectInput under Controller Options.
|
Right trigger does not work when using Steam Input
Bind Soft Pull Action to Right Trigger[18]
|
- Right-click the game in the Steam library and go to manage/controller configuration.
- Click
Right Trigger and bind Soft Pull Action to Right Trigger .
|
Audio
Audio feature |
State |
Notes |
Separate volume controls |
|
Music and SFX. |
Surround sound |
|
Up to 5.0 output.[19] |
Subtitles |
|
|
Closed captions |
|
|
Mute on focus lost |
|
|
Royalty free audio |
|
|
- Command line arguments responsible for the in-game audio:
-fullspecaudio
: forces higher quality audio (default).
-minspecaudio
: forces lower quality audio, good for lower-end CPUs (removes some extra audio details, not reducing audio quality; reduces CPU load).
- DSOAL for using as alternative DirectSound wrapper (with or without HRTF) works on the Rockstar Games Launcher version and on Windows 10 builds prior to 1809.
Localizations
Language |
UI |
Audio |
Sub |
Notes |
English |
|
|
|
|
Czech |
|
|
|
Fan translation, download. |
French |
|
|
|
|
German |
|
|
|
|
Hungarian |
|
|
|
Fan translation, download. |
Italian |
|
|
|
|
Japanese |
|
|
|
Only the main game is translated, user must change game language to access DLC content.[20] See this to enforce different language without having to change Rockstar Games Launcher or Steam language. |
Polish |
|
|
|
Fan translation, download. Download this for the Complete Edition. |
Brazilian Portuguese |
|
|
|
Fan translation, download. Download this for the Complete Edition. |
Russian |
|
|
|
Official localization by «1C-Softclub» included in the Complete Edition. Download this for retail versions. |
Spanish |
|
|
|
|
Turkish |
|
|
|
Fan translation, download. |
Network
- HappinessMP does not support any mods or improvements which require Ultimate ASI Loader, meaning FusionFix is incompatible with it.[21]
Multiplayer types
Connection types
Ports
Protocol |
Port(s) and/or port range(s)[25] |
TCP |
GFWL: 3074 |
UDP |
GFWL: 3074, 88; IV:MP: 8888 |
- This game supports Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) for automatic port configuration.
- UPnP is used on the Games for Windows - LIVE version.
VR support
Issues unresolved
- Community-maintained issue database
Timing-related issues
- A framerate higher than 60 FPS can result in timing issues, including, but not limited to:
- Menu fade in/out becomes increasingly longer at framerates above 60
- In the mission "Out of Commission", while trying to climb onto the helicopter, no matter how often the jump key is pressed, the player character will not be able to get onto the helicopter. Reportedly fixed with patch 1.0.8.0.[26], but may still break above 60 FPS.
- Brucie's garage door in the mission "Easy as Can Be" closes, prematurely leaving Niko trapped.[27]
- The use of the virtual keyboard of the police car computer becomes impossible to control with the keyboard due to the sensitivity being increased too much.
- Several activities, such as pool and air hockey, have their physics break, causing them to not play as expected.
- The handbrake camera and regular camera movement become excessively slow.
- The entire game runs faster than normal when above 250 FPS.[28]
- Cutscenes zoom in above 30 FPS.[29]
- Postprocessing effects are inconsistent at different framerates.
- Rain effects are inconsistent on different framerates.
Issues fixed
Game language does not follow the Rockstar Games Launcher/Steam settings
No bullet spread/recoil
Use FusionFix[34]
|
Note:
- Requires 1.0.7.0, 1.0.8.0, or the Complete Edition.
- The option is enabled by default, but can be toggled off by changing RecoilFix to 0 in
GTAIV.EFLC.FusionFix.ini .
|
Unable to play in offline mode with the game's Steam version
- This solution will enable offline mode with local game saves.
Run the game from the Rockstar Games Launcher[35]
|
- Ensure both Rockstar Games Launcher and Steam are already set for offline mode: Rockstar Games Launcher's how-to. Steam's how-to.
- Disconnect the system from Ethernet and Wi-Fi.
- Run the Rockstar Games Launcher using Windows' Start Menu, that uses a shortcut to
LauncherPatcher.exe (usually located in %PROGRAMFILES%\Rockstar Games\Launcher ).
- Run the game from this launcher by clicking "Play on Steam".
|
VRAM amount is wrongly detected
- The game can wrongly detect the amount of VRAM available, showing only 512 MB instead.
- Claimed to be fixed on 1.0.8.0,[36] but may still happen on certain system configurations[37] such as laptops with dual GPU configurations[38], when using wrappers like DXVK.
Use -availablevidmem XXXX.0 command line argument and replace XXXX by the wanted amount of VRAM in MB[39]
|
Notes
- Using any value above
3072.0 on latest Complete Edition version is not recommended as it seems to cause texture popping all throughout the map.[40][dubious – discuss]
|
Use ExtendVidMem[41]
|
- Works on the Complete Edition.
- Download the
dinput8.dll file in this page.
- Extract it to
<path-to-game>\GTA IV\ .
Notes
- Rename the ASI loader's variant of
dinput8.dll to dsound.dll to use this fix along with Ultimate ASI Loader.
|
DRM-related errors
- Absent from the Complete Edition, where GFWL and SecuROM were removed from the game.
- Install the latest Games for Windows - LIVE in case of old versions on Windows 8 or later.
Fatal error: WTV270
SecuLauncher: failed to start application. [2000] error
All civilian cars are taxis (taxi bug)
Example of a game affected by the "taxi bug".
During gameplay with mods, civilian cars can be entirely replaced with taxis.[43][44][45]
Use RIL.Budgeted[46]
|
- Download the mod.
- Extract to
<path-to-game>\GTAIV .
- Open
RIL.Budgeted.ini with a text editor.
- Find the following line in the opened file:
VehicleBudget=40000000
- Change
40000000 to 120000000
- Save and close the file.
Note:
- Requires Ultimate ASI Loader.
- FusionFix already includes this mod, edit the value in
GTAIV.EFLC.FusionFix.ini instead.[47]
- If using IV Tweaker on retail patches, edit the value in
IVTweaker.ini instead.[48]
- The value given for
VehicleBudget should be the size of vehicles.img in bytes (i.e. the 120,000,000 bytes shown in the above instructions is 114.44 MB) plus the combined size in bytes of all vehicle model and texture mods in use. Increase this value if the bug re-occurs. Decrease it if cars stop having engine sounds.
|
Use Simple Traffic Loader[49]
|
Note:
- Requires Ultimate ASI Loader and any retail version.
- Rather than being a direct solution, it's a workaround that completely changes how traffic is handled.
- Allows to limit selected cars to specific in-game regions.
- Attempting to limit modded cars to specific in-game regions can result in the game world failing to render.[50]
|
Film grain noise texture size depends on water quality setting
Example of film grain effect issue, using Low
and Very High
Water Quality settings, respectively.
In "The Lost and the Damned" (TLAD) expansion pack, the size of the noise texture used for the film grain effect is tied to the Water Quality setting and game resolution. This results in the film grain effect being virtually-invisible at the highest settings.
Miscellaneous fixes
Various Fixes, as the mod's name suggests, provides a variety of miscellaneous fixes, such as broken transparencies on various objects and textures, texture and model flickering, missing or incorrect textures (i.e. using beta textures instead of finalized textures as used on console releases), broken LODs, and so on.
- The mod also adds textures and assets from various versions of the game where it makes a noticeable visual improvement.
Other information
API
Technical specs |
Supported |
Notes |
Direct3D |
9.0c |
|
Shader Model support |
3 |
|
Executable |
32-bit |
64-bit |
Notes |
Windows |
|
|
|
Middleware
|
Middleware |
Notes |
Physics |
Bullet, Euphoria |
|
Audio |
DirectSound |
|
Interface |
Adobe Flash |
|
Cutscenes |
Bink Video |
1.9r Used for in-game television. |
Launch options
- It is possible to alter the way the game runs by using command line arguments.
Parameter |
Description |
-help |
Lists the available commands. |
-adapter |
Uses the specified screen adapter. |
-autoconfig |
Automatically adjusts the graphics settings depending on computer specifications. |
-availablevidmem |
Sets the amount of available physical video memory. |
-benchmark |
Launches the game in Benchmark mode and then quits it. |
-detailquality |
Sets the game's detail distance (0-99). |
-disableimposters |
Turns off imposter rendering for vehicles. |
-forcehighqualitymirrors |
Enables 64-bit mirrors.[dubious – discuss] |
-forcer2vb |
Forces rendering to Vertex Buffer. |
-frameLimit |
Limits the FPS to the refresh rate of the monitor being used. |
-framelockinwindow |
Forces framelock to work even in a window. |
-fullscreen |
Forces fullscreen mode. |
-fullspecaudio |
Forces high-end CPU audio footprint. |
-gpucount |
Allows to manually set the GPU count if query fails. |
-height |
Sets the vertical resolution. |
-managed |
Uses D3D runtime managed resources. |
-memrestrict |
Restricts the amount of available memory the game can use. |
-minspecaudio |
Forces low-end CPU audio footprint. |
-no_3GB |
Disables 3GB memory support on 32-bit OSes which have been set to allow games and applications to use that much memory. |
-noBlockOnLostFocus |
Prevents the game from blocking window updates during focus loss. |
-noprecache |
Disables precaching of resources. |
-nomemrestrict |
Disables memory restrictions. |
-nominimize |
Disables the ability to restore the game from minimize and altering resolutions (reduces system memory footprint). |
-norestrictions |
Disables restrictions on graphics settings. |
-noswapdelay |
Disables sleep delay before Present (disables the hard present stalls fix). |
-notimefix |
Disables Time Fix. |
-novblank |
Disables vertical blanking for V-Sync. |
-percentvidmem |
Percentage of video memory to be made available for the game. |
-refreshrate |
Sets the refresh rate (values set must be supported by the monitor used). |
-reserve |
Sets the amount of memory to be used by other programs. |
-reservedApp |
Sets the amount of memory to be left available within application space. |
-renderquality |
Adjusts anisotropic filtering (0-4). |
-safemode |
Sets the game's graphics to the lowest setting possible. |
-shadowdensity |
Adjusts night shadows (0-16). |
-shadowquality |
Sets the shadow quality (0-4). |
-stereo |
Enables stereo audio support. |
-texturequality |
Sets the game's texture quality (0-2). |
-unmanaged |
Uses application managed resources. |
-usedirectinput |
Allows DirectInput support alongside XInput support. |
-viewdistance |
Sets the game's view distance (0-99). |
-windowed |
Forces windowed mode. |
-width |
Sets the horizontal resolution. |
Custom music
The game allows users to play their own music on a custom radio station: Independence FM.[52]
Instructions[52]
|
- Place any audio files/folders or create shortcuts into
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Rockstar Games\GTA IV\User Music\ folder.
- Go into the in-game settings.
- From the in-game settings, go to Audio.
- Click on either Quick Scan or Complete Scan to perform a one-time scan of
User Music or enable Auto Scan to have the game automatically scan User Music) .
- Tune into the Independence FM radio station in-game.
Notes:
- The minimum amount of tracks in the folder for the station to work is 3.[53]
- iTunes must be installed for M4A support.
- Supported formats are M4A, MP3 and WMA. Other formats and extensions are not detected.
- Use shortcuts to audio files/folders to improve performance and save disk space.
- Supports high-resolution audio files. Up to 96 kHz/24 bit.
- Supports Surround audio files. Up to 6 channels.
- Monaural audio files are not supported.
|
Restore removed music
- Over 50 radio station tracks were removed from the game in April 2018 due to expired licenses.[54]
- Restores the original PC pause menu music for The Ballad of Gay Tony.
Install music 'downgrader'[55]
|
- Download the music 'downgrader'.
- Extract the downloaded zip file.
- Open the folder which the zip file was extracted into, and run
IVCERadioRestorer.exe .
- Follow the installer's instructions.
- Launch via Steam or Rockstar Games Launcher.
|
- Gives an incomplete checklist of objectives to reach 100% based on your save.
- Used to install mods that are packaged in .oiv format.
- Required for mods which expect the user to package their contents into a format usable by the game.
Trainers
- Trainers are usually used for fun, but can also add extra features, such as improved FOV settings over FusionFix.
- Compatible with Complete Edition and retail versions 1.0.7.0 and 1.0.8.0.
- aru's Script Hook (additionally, Compatibility Patch for CE if you're using Complete Edition) and ASI Loader are required.
Modifications
Important things to consider
Due to the nature of modding the game, here are some important things to consider before engaging in general (e.g. non-essential) mod installation:
- It is strongly recommended to backup any files these mods may replace.
- OpenIV may be required for some mods. Such mods do not depend on a specific version unless stated otherwise.
- Installing mods that replace files can follow a different procedure which don't require replacing files if you have Ultimate ASI Loader. For example,
<path-to-game>\GTAIV\update
can include all non-img files in their respective folder structure, while all the .img files can be separately batched into one (or three if they affect EFLC too) .img file with OpenIV in a separate folder.[56]
- Requires OpenIV.
- Fixes many issues with gun animations, like the firing delay on the assault rifles.
- Ammo depletes much faster on weapons, such as Micro SMG.
- Restores additional console-only visual effects and content.
- FusionFix is required.
System requirements
Windows |
|
Minimum |
Recommended |
Operating system (OS) |
XP SP3 |
Vista SP2, 7 SP1 |
Processor (CPU) |
Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8 GHz AMD Athlon X2 64 2.4 GHz | |
System memory (RAM) |
1.5 GB | |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
22 GB | |
Video card (GPU) |
ATI Radeon X1900 Nvidia GeForce 7900 256 MB of VRAM DirectX 9.0c compatible | |
Notes
References
- ↑ YouTube video comparison (2:06) - last accessed on 2023-01-16
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZ48QRa4U0U&t=156s
- ↑ GTA IV PC - Games For Windows - last accessed on 2022-09-09
- ↑ Grand Theft Auto IV Patch Changelog - last accessed on 2022-09-20
- "Separate RGSC application no longer required to launch game."
- ↑ Grand Theft Auto IV and Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City updates to remove Games for Windows Live - Rockstar Games Customer Support - last accessed on 2022-09-20
- "As a result of this update the following services will no longer be available in Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition – Games for Windows Live, Multiplayer mode, Leaderboards."
- ↑ Grand Theft Auto IV and Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City updates to remove Games for Windows Live - Rockstar Games Customer Support - last accessed on 2022-09-20
- "Players with existing CD keys will be able to redeem them via the Rockstar Games Launcher."
- ↑ DXVK works magic on GTA IV - Reddit - last accessed on 2022-10-29
- ↑ How to fix choppiness and stutters in GTA IV - last accessed on 2022-10-29
- ↑ D3D9 - Cannot select proper resolutions using dxvk with GTA IV - Issue #1831 - doitsujin/dxvk - Github - last accessed on 2023-07-08
- ↑ Ultimate-ASI-Loader/readme.md at master · ThirteenAG/Ultimate-ASI-Loader · GitHub - last accessed on 9 June 2023
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 FusionFix's changelogs - last accessed on July 2023
- ↑ GTA IV (2016 Patch) | 21:9 Review - YouTube
- ↑ Verified by User:Blackbird on 2021-04-17
- ↑ Fix this mouse issue Rockstar! - Help & Support - GTAForums - last accessed on 2023-07-08
- ↑ GTAIV.EFLC.FusionFix - Will different sensitivity with Mousefix = 1 and Mousefix = 0 ever be fixed #263 - last accessed on 2024-03-17, comment
- "New RAW input option was added and mouse fix was removed, sniper seems to be behaving better now, comment for unlock if persist"
- ↑ Currently Supported Controllers for GTA IV PC - Rockstar Support - last accessed on May 2023
- ↑ Verified by User:Sandemc on 2023-07-07
- ↑ gtaforums.com - last accessed on May 2023
- ↑ PC Gaming Surround Sound Round-up
- ↑ Japanese support - last accessed on 2022-12-01
- ↑ Verified by User:Sandemc on 2023-11-21
- ↑ Verified by User:Sandemc on 2023-07-08
- Works, but unclear what lobbies are being prioritized; from what people are saying, it also has issues with modes like Free Mode
- ↑ Verified by User:Sandemc on 2023-07-08
- You can't matchmake between servers, however.
- ↑ HappinessMP - Getting Started (Self-hosted server setup) - last accessed on 2024-03-17
- ↑ IV:MP T4 Manual - IV-MP Community Forum - last accessed on May 2023
- ↑ Grand Theft Auto IV Patch 8 Title Update Notes (PC Only) - Rockstar Games Customer Support - last accessed on 3 July 2023
- ↑ Verified by User:Sandemc on 2023-07-07
- ↑ Speedup at absurd FPS (300+) - last accessed on 2023-07-08
- ↑ GitHub - GTAIV-Issues-List - Issue #1 - last accessed on 2023-07-03
- ↑ GitHub - ThirteenAG/GTAIV.EFLC.FusionFix - last accessed on 2023-11-03
- ""Workaround for the garage door bug on high framerates, the garage door only closes now when Niko is actually outside of the garage", "Fixed the heli climb QTE being impossible on really high framerates", "Workaround for a bug where Jacob crashes the Annihilator on high framerates (Deal Ending)", "Fixed motion blur framerate scaling", "Fixed rain framerate scaling""
- ↑ GitHub - Release GTAIV.EFLC.FusionFix v2.0 - last accessed on 2023-11-03
- ""Fixed cutscene jitter and excessive zooming at framerate above 30", "Fixed bike sliding at framerate above 60""
- ↑ GTA IV: Bugs and Glitches compilation
- ↑ Verified by User:Tomasak on 2022-12-01
- Checked if mod works on latest CE version
- ↑ GitHub - GTAIV.EFLC.FusionFix - last accessed on 2023-07-04
- "Fixed recoil behavior that was different when playing with keyboard/mouse and gamepad"
- ↑ Verified by User:Bowi on 2023-01-21
- Tested myself with both Steam's and Rockstar Launcher's clouds disabled.
- ↑ Grand Theft Auto IV Patch 8 Title Update Notes (PC only) - last accessed on 2022-08-23
- ↑ GTA IV – How to fix Resource Usage (VRAM) stuck on 512 MB - last accessed on 9 June 2023
- ↑ Verified by User:Tomasak on 2022-11-29
- Checked on laptop with GTX 1060 and Intel HD 630 GPU combination
- ↑ Verified by User:Tomasak on 2022-11-29
- Tested on both platforms
- ↑ Verified by User:ZT111 on 2023-03-27
- ↑ Newest patch - VRAM 512MB limit !! - last accessed on May 2023
- ↑ SecuROM™ Support Website - Grand Theft Auto IV
- ↑ r/GTAIV - Is the Taxi Bug Permanent? - last accessed on 2023-07-05
- ↑ Steam Community Discussion - ♥♥♥♥♥♥ TAXI BUG - last accessed on 2023-07-05
- ↑ GTAForums - Can't Stop The Traffic (Taxi) Bug - last accessed on 2023-07-05
- ↑ Verified by User:Sandemc on 2023-07-08
- ↑ GTAIV.EFLC.FusionFix - Issue #85, reply 1 - last accessed on 2023-07-05
- ↑ Verified by User:Sandemc on 2023-07-08
- ↑ Verified by User:Sandemc on 2023-07-08
- ↑ GTAinside.com - Simple Traffic Loader - last accessed on 2023-07-05
- "Custom cars are also supported!
Warning: Custom cars might make the world to disappear.
Open the "SimpleTrafficLoader.ini" in the main directory of GTA IV and just insert the name of your vehicle in any of the sections! (Without extension)"
- ↑ GitHub - Parallellines0451/GTAIV.EFLC.FusionShaders - last accessed on 2023-11-03
- "Fixed TLAD noise being affected by water quality"
- ↑ 52.0 52.1 Your Own Music - GTA 4 / Grand Theft Auto IV on Gta.cz - last accessed on May 2023
- ↑ Verified by User:Sandemc on 2023-07-07
- The online sources say 5, but from personal observations the number is 3; placing 1 or 2 tracks doesn't work.
- ↑ Grand Theft Auto IV music cut patch - Rock Paper Shotgun - last accessed on May 2023
- ↑ IV/EFLC Radio "downgrader" - GTA Forums - last accessed on May 2023
- ↑ Verified by User:Sandemc on 2023-07-08
- Confirmed from personal observation and tests, but this lacks official documentation anywhere.