GTA IV details leaked

By Robert Purchese Published 11 April, 2007

It isn't an MMORPG.

New details for Grand Theft Auto IV have spilled their way onto the Internet, expanding on what we can expect when the game launches on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 this October.

The game will be as significantly different as GTA III was to the previous top-down crime capers, Rockstar founder Dan Houser told Game Informer, and will offer much wider choice and freedom to the player.

As we already know from the trailer, GTA IV will take place in Liberty City (New York) in 2007, and will revolve around an Eastern European fellow. This chap, the main character, is Niko Bellic - an immigrant in search of the "American Dream".

His cousin Roman persuaded him to make the move by boasting a life of luxury, but it eventually turns out he was using this as a cover to hide his own failures. He'll be your only contact until you can find your feet, and ultimately carve out your own destiny.

One of the biggest differences in the new game will be the way you interact with other people. In previous iterations you've been at the beck and call of others, picking up your phone to receive orders. But this time around you'll be able to dial out, calling people to arrange rendezvouses and correlate your own plans. There will still be an element of following someone else's game plan, but the freedom of choice is something Rockstar is proudly standing by.

In GTA IV, four of the five boroughs of New York have been recreated for you to explore, as well as parts of New Jersey. Broker is the equivalent of Brooklyn, Manhattan is now Algonquin, Queens becomes Dukes, the Bronx is Brohan, and New Jersey transforms into Alderney.

While that doesn't give the fourth game the largest geographical playing field in the series, the level of detail and freedom should apparently more than make up for it.

We've already seen the impressive lighting effects, sumptuous skyline, and next-gen sheen from the trailer. What is less evident is the vastly enhanced AI, where NPCs will walk and talk much more convincingly, going about their daily routines around you. And apparently the game will only look better as we get closer to launch.

As with other games you can expect voice acting and an impressive array of radio stations to choose from while you're joyriding in Liberty City. However, it's unlikely we'll see Hollywood actors in the lead roles in this game, as Rockstar is making an effort to choose less well-known talent, both for voices and for the track listing.

Multiplayer is also going to be included this time around, but it isn't going to be an MMORPG. It's going to be something separate to the single-player experience that will be fun, interesting, and progressive.

Technically the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions will look and feel the same, and loading screens should be non existent after your initial entry into the world.

However, Microsoft's console will offer that exclusive downloadable content its boasted about at every opportunity, though there's still speculation as to whether the Blu-ray disc will include more to begin with.

It's all shaping up very well indeed. Be sure to go and see the very first trailer for the game over on Eurogamer TV if you haven't already. And you should have, really. Everyone else has.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds. @Clert on Twitter.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (56) Latest comment 5 years ago

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  • crozon #1 5 years ago

    wonder if it will be out on the PC. If not i think i might get a 360 to play this

  • Donny #2 5 years ago

    :o

  • Errol #3 5 years ago

    Rockstar is making an effort to choose less well-known talent, both for voices and for the track listing

    Economising, eh?

  • joeking #4 5 years ago

    Sounds promising indeed. This and Crackdown should make excellent bedfellows.

  • Nova5lag #5 5 years ago

    As long as K ROCK makes a return!

  • mkreku #6 5 years ago

    I wouldn't mind hearing James Woods again. I thought he was hilarious in GTA: San Andreas.

  • asphaltcowboy #7 5 years ago

    "While that doesn't give the fourth game the largest geographical playing field in the series, the level of detail and freedom should apparently more than make up for it."

    Key quote for me - San Andreas was TOO big. And shit.
    Haven't really liked GTA since III, it's all about the Crackdown... but I can remain interested...

  • NewYork #8 5 years ago

    Leaked/appeared in a magazine, whatever.

  • Fatallyflawed #9 5 years ago

    I was hoping for some degree of charactor creation like in Saints Row and/or being able to play as a female charactor, mainly because if I have to look at someones arse for numerous hours I'd prefer it to be female.

  • Moz #10 5 years ago

    I thought they had said that both 360 and PS3 were getting downloads just different ones to make them exclusive.

    I'm expecting the PS3 version to have more radio stations etc, the same as the Darkness on the PS3 is going to have more TV shows.

    Would be interesting to know which system the trailer is running on.

  • Talha #11 5 years ago

    Well suddenly this is the hottest game around and for good reason.

    It feels SO GOOD to have a next-gen console - seeing all those screenshots and movies and knowing that you will just pop in the disc the game will run just like that (hopefully).

    A message to those pining for the PC version: freeze your upgrade cycle for a few weeks (yes, that's all it takes) and get either a 360 or a PS3. Because even if you have a DX10 card (like I do), we all know the drivers will fuck up the game, then NVidia will release new ones which will only turn the main character into a spider, then they will stop listening to you....

  • secombe #12 5 years ago

    No countryside or desert, we are led to believe.

    Shocking.

  • Agent_Llama #13 5 years ago

    Why no downloadable content on PS3?

  • Sko #14 5 years ago

    Shame they're being tight-fisted on the voices/track listing.

  • sharpfish #15 5 years ago

    I'm sure it will be great and all that. The trailer actually didn't impress me at all, the geometry looked old (last gen) and the textures were nothing special. Yes the lighting looked good and HOPEFULLY we wont get vsync/tearing/shimmering issues while playing - if it does then it's not worth buying.

    Now, when Vice City came out (the series high in my opinion) it was still a new/fresh feeling to have these large / free environments, in short it was breathtaking. Now that feeling has gone, the only way to be blown away again is to really increase the detail and make it as real (lighting/geometry/textures) as they can so that you feel real consequences for your actions.

    Let's face it - the gameplay isn't going to be anything new/special so their "living city" angle is the one they really need to fully execute to perfection.

    However, I doubt that will happen. If the detailing can be as good as a much smaller game (eg Dead Rising) then the game will be fun on a stick, if the gfx look worse (i.e crackdown, saints row) due to massive environments then it's all going to be a bit 'meh'.

    I know i'm showing my age now, but I remember back in the 80's and 90's when new games esp for new generations of console/computers would literally take your expectations to the next level.

    I love my 360 but pretty much all i'm seeing is the same graphics but at a higher res, i'm not seeing better detail, better artistry more complete worlds (except maybe for Dead Rising and PGR3).

    long post - ultimately pointless and probably ignore by most but I had to get it off my chest. GTAIV is going to be a massive title and we will be able to tell a lot about the real state of "current gen" gaming when we get to take a good look at it (and stuff like Halo 3 also). If we find ourselves making excuses for the games and ignoring the fact that it hasn't lived up technically to the hype we saw about next gen at e3 a few years ago then we are fooling ourselves.

  • moggsy #16 5 years ago

    There are no planes in GTA IV because there is only one city, and Rockstar want the game to seem realistic.

    That's a shame as I really like the flying aspect of GTA.

  • brn #17 5 years ago

    A little countryside I wouldn't mind, you know so you could have picnic or something, maybe go visit Alan Wake... oh.. or go sightseeing!

    AMERICA!!!


    Or whatever.

  • Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #18 5 years ago

    That's a shame as I really like the flying aspect of GTA.

    That was an exercise in torture on PC! Oh, unless you're being sarcastic, in which case I didn't say that.

  • spongebob #19 5 years ago

    But this time around you'll be able to dial out, calling people to arrange rendezvouses and correlate your own plans. There will still be an element of following someone else's game plan, but the freedom of choice is something Rockstar is proudly standing by.

    This sounds really, really interesting. If they are able to boost the quality of dramatic elements in the storyline and make the gameworld more believable and open in completely new directions (like interaction with people, not just interaction with inanimate objects by destroying them) there might be some truth to the bold statement that GTA IV will make as big as an impact as GTA III did.

    I really like the storyline as well. The appeal is broader than with San Andreas and Vice City because now it's not just about a decade or one culture.

    Can't wait to learn more!
    Edited by spongebob at 11/04/07 @ 11:54

  • Caimbeul #20 5 years ago

    "GTA IV details leaked
    It isn't an MMORPG" - Thank God!

    and multiplayer this time...yay! let just hope it doesnt have frame rate issues like all other GTA's

  • Caimbeul #21 5 years ago

    "wonder if it will be out on the PC. If not i think i might get a 360 to play this" - If it was developed for X360 - then transferring it over to PC should be no prob...PC are are more powerful anyway should performance shouldnt be an issue + they'd be fools not to.

  • Caimbeul #22 5 years ago

    "GTA IV details leaked
    It isn't an MMORPG" - Thank God!

    and multiplayer this time...yay! let just hope it doesnt have frame rate issues like all other GTA's

  • Lonestar #23 5 years ago

    From what I've read so far about Gta IV, I'm left feeling quite underwhelmed...

  • Subquest #24 5 years ago

    Talha, the fact is the PC versions of the GTA series were undeniably better than their console brethren. Which will be the same again, albeit a year later...

    And flying was only tricky until you remapped the controls.

  • Errol #25 5 years ago

    It looks astonishingly good. Just look at the screenies! This is THE game to get a PS3/360 for.

  • Katsumoto #26 5 years ago

    wasn't the biggest fan of San Andreas - I can't put my finger on why exactly though. Maybe this will get me interested again when it eventually turns up on PC.

  • Steroyd #27 5 years ago

    PC are are more powerful anyway should performance shouldnt be an issue + they'd be fools not to.

    That isn't the main reason why the PC is better, it's the mods and the fact that you can manipulate the game as you see fit (so easily that even i could do it), i used to LOVE making cars as heavy as tanks or very light so they fly etc.

    Ah memories of why my GTAIII PC pwned.

  • rudedudejude #28 5 years ago

    Sounds like Mafia quite a bit, that game handled countryside really well and had some awesome features, as well as a sprawling city. You could drive around the country but you didn't HAVE to, it was so nice though it was a pleasure to drive in!

  • Glitch #29 5 years ago

    If it doesn't have EVERYTHING that GTA San Andreas had/has then it can fuck off, someone commented about GTA4 not having roller blades, jet bikes and planes, well that would be fucking well shit. So many NEXT GEN games are removing features that OLD games had, I mean MotorStorm not having reply is fucking bullshit and GTA4 REMOVING features that SanAndreas had is lame and frankly a step in the wrong direction. At the end of the day I would rather have planes, jet packs and the parachute than some bullshit lighting effect that I dont give two flying fucks about.

    With regards to the multiplayer, lets hope its nothing like the shit that was Saints Row, poor online play and lobbys, what lobbys?
    Edited by Glitch at 11/04/07 @ 12:40

  • Lonestar #30 5 years ago

    I'll probably pick the Pc version eventually.

    HOWEVER.

    Does anyone think that R* will completely lock down the game and not allow any modding what-so-ever? Given the lucrative download content for X360 and the 'hot coffee' debacle, I can see them really nailing the game closed.

  • glaeken #31 5 years ago

    They said no planes but they did not say anything about helicopters.

    I suspect the no planes stance has more to do with not wanting to see 911 recreations going up on youtube than any game play reasons. They probably did not want Jack Thompson to claim the game was a terrorism simulator.

  • The-Bodybuilder #32 5 years ago

    >"Multiplayer is also going to be included this time around, but it isn't going to be an MMORPG. It's going to be something separate to the single-player experience that will be fun, interesting, and progressive."

    Sounds like a crappy saints row multiplayer.

  • FmCUK #33 5 years ago

    Or they want to sell the planes with the episodic bits in the future. That also puts the decision to use planes in the players hands and might help negate media issues.

  • 3william56 #34 5 years ago

    I want to see integration with Home on the PS3, so that you can seamlessly bring hookers back to your Bravia equipped virtual f**kpad (complete with paid for flying V of ducks and beachfront real estate). Oh, and maybe do a katana rampage in the Home lobby.

  • SomaticSense #35 5 years ago

    @Obsequious

    Cheers mate! That link was incredible :)

    I was feeling really underwhelmed after seeing the trailer, but after seeing those screenies and reading some (whatever I could make out) of the more in depth details in the text, this is No1 game I'm looking forward to by far.

    Thank fuck we only have to wait till October, and not another two years, like is usually the case after a game's first details have been talked about.

  • SBfistfun #36 5 years ago

    SB smell BS

  • glaeken #37 5 years ago

    Well as I said they did not mention choppers so maybe they are in the game. It would make sense as you see lots of choppers flying around NY but in normal circumstances planes don't go near it.

  • Quine #38 5 years ago

    If they use the extra cycles to do Proper Physics then that alone will greatly enhance the gameplay- smashing vehicles up Motorstorm-style with spectacular crashes, approaching 'problem solving' by dynamiting the odd bridge, watching as random scenery happens to take you/your enemy out and so on will totally make the game for me.

    That and high-res textures. Goodbye Renderware...

  • spongebob #39 5 years ago

    Could someone quote or hand over a link to a text where someone from Rockstar states that there won't be any flying vehicles at all? Because to me it seems people are just making things up.

    I really hope they are adopting some features from Scarface to the game. Using taxi or some other public transportation for fast "teleportation" between locales would be excellent. This is something Scarface had.

    Hopefully they also have at last a good saving system. Something that makes going through the missions less of an ordeal.

  • Quine #40 5 years ago

    Oh god yes- less of those impossible missions where the deciding factor comes after ten minutes of faffing around and after the twentieth try you want to start breaking things for real.

    Hands up all those who gave up on one of the games due a badly-balanced mission...

  • spongebob #41 5 years ago

    I never understood how any of the game designers could think that making the player watch a cut scene sequence again every single effing time you retried the mission was a good thing.

    Scarface had the same problem but at least some of the longer missions had an automatic checkpoint save.

    When you have a really good storyline, great mood in the game, you sure as hell don't want the player to stop playing because of some tedious missions that make you want to kill someone. Everyone should be able to finish the game eventually.

    It's like you'd start slowly to get electrocuted when you watched a really good movie and towards the end the pain would be so bad you couldn't finish it even if you wanted.

  • Madder-Max #42 5 years ago

    I'm sure it will be great and all that. The trailer actually didn't impress me at all, the geometry looked old (last gen) and the textures were nothing special. Yes the lighting looked good and HOPEFULLY we wont get vsync/tearing/shimmering issues while playing - if it does then it's not worth buying.

    Now, when Vice City came out (the series high in my opinion) it was still a new/fresh feeling to have these large / free environments, in short it was breathtaking. Now that feeling has gone, the only way to be blown away again is to really increase the detail and make it as real (lighting/geometry/textures) as they can so that you feel real consequences for your actions.

    Let's face it - the gameplay isn't going to be anything new/special so their "living city" angle is the one they really need to fully execute to perfection.

    However, I doubt that will happen. If the detailing can be as good as a much smaller game (eg Dead Rising) then the game will be fun on a stick, if the gfx look worse (i.e crackdown, saints row) due to massive environments then it's all going to be a bit 'meh'.

    I know i'm showing my age now, but I remember back in the 80's and 90's when new games esp for new generations of console/computers would literally take your expectations to the next level.

    I love my 360 but pretty much all i'm seeing is the same graphics but at a higher res, i'm not seeing better detail, better artistry more complete worlds (except maybe for Dead Rising and PGR3).

    long post - ultimately pointless and probably ignore by most but I had to get it off my chest. GTAIV is going to be a massive title and we will be able to tell a lot about the real state of "current gen" gaming when we get to take a good look at it (and stuff like Halo 3 also). If we find ourselves making excuses for the games and ignoring the fact that it hasn't lived up technically to the hype we saw about next gen at e3 a few years ago then we are fooling ourselves.


    /Stands and applauds

  • Jac #43 5 years ago

    Hopefully the hand to hand combat will be taken from bully and improved rather than the one punch mechanic in gta.

    Also cant believe people actually care about a multiplayer for this game, i pray they dont waste too much time making it.

  • Quine #44 5 years ago

    Are you mad? Two people on the same /\/\0t0rb1k3 robbing a bank == Sexitime!

  • ViralNinja #45 5 years ago

    Hopefully this time they'll make a GTA game that your casual game will have the patience to actually complete.

  • Schiraman #46 5 years ago

    All a bit underwhelming so far, here's hoping the multiplayer is something really good because otherwise this sounds quite disappointing. Frankly they really need to pull off something special if they want to outshine Crackdown.

  • konnsky #47 5 years ago

    i'm prepared to buy ps3 for that one

  • Quine #48 5 years ago

    I've always thought a good online persistent world cops vs robbers bank heist game would be the ultimate, but for now I'll settle for GTA IV letting a bunch of people ride int he same car doing proper drive-bys.

  • immateriaux #49 5 years ago

    This is getting me (finally) a little bit interested in a "next gen" console ... so far I couldn't see the point, at all, but I might get a PS3 to play in New York if the place can truly be made vibrant and NPC AI is indeed notched up significantly. Fuck the planes, driving around Brooklyn on a bike will be great in itself.

  • Ryze #50 5 years ago

    Cool, but who wanted a MMORPG?? Fuck role playing - I want to blast fools. Massively multiplayer would be great (and probably slow), but RPG? No.

    Racing, chasing, running, fighting, shooting plus coop missions, clans and all the rest. That's what we want. I've got a feeling that we might only see 6 or so player multiplayer - but the more the better for this type of game!


    @Quine - Yes - i sacked off Vice City in 2003 due to a stupid mission that had me faffing around too many times. If they've not fixed this, then hopefully Eurogamer will tell us and I won't bother spending the ca$h in any hurry (depending on the online play).

    I've got the PSP Vice City stories, and the same damn thing happens with one or two missions - but I persevered during my last flight to Germany and the game's flowing again now!

    Nothing like being trapped in a plane or airport with nowt to do to get my PSP some well needed game time.

    Does anyone know if there's an equivalent of Warp pipe that can work on PSP GTA?

    I've only played it multiplayer a couple of times, and that was on LCS.

  • ph101 #51 5 years ago

    Looks pretty exciting to me. That they are giving more freedom in the story is good. MP is good.
    Quine - APB is what you are looking for, if it is in development...

  • Scimarad #52 5 years ago

    Yes, but do you have to play an arsehole this time? I know it's based on crime but it would be nice if you could actually help people out.

  • Quine #53 5 years ago

    Yeah APB has been a bit too quiet recently, maybe Hei$t will have some legs.

    A nice GTA?!

    /bunch of flowers!

  • Ryze #54 5 years ago

    @Scimarad:

    I agree, but It'd be better as a spin off or separate franchise using the same game engine.

    For example, if the San An engine was used for a Wii game that plays as a positive experience - with better interaction with other characters and less mindless clumsy blasting - that'd be impressive.

    Plus remote wielding San Andreas Stories in the Wii - playing as a different character in the story, would be great.

    As long as there are a decent number of enhancements.

  • YourMessageHere #55 5 years ago

    All GTA needs for multiplayer is co-op. Making it seperate from the SP experience is exactly what you don't need.

    All I really want from this kind of thing is the ability to go anywhere, enter any building, talk to anyone, with or without my friends - obviously aiming high but the closer it is to that the better. I'm certainly behind any attempt to create something that seems a living city, even if it is New York yet again.

  • SomaticSense #56 5 years ago

    @Madder Max

    "if the gfx look worse (i.e crackdown, saints row) due to massive environments then it's all going to be a bit 'meh'. "

    What the fuck are you on about?

    If GTA4's city is anywhere near as intricately detailed or as well designed as Crackdown, it'll be a stunner. It certainly looks a lot better graphically than Dead Rising to my eyes, so I don't get where the fuck you're coming from with that opinion.

    I think maybe you need your eyes testing.

    Edit: And did you just use PGR3 as a barometer for for how 'next-gen' games should be done?

    PGR3 is exactly what you complained about the majority of next-gen games being. Ie, a cross between PGR 1 & 2 (a step back content and gameplay wise from 2), in high-def and with a fancy in-car view.
    I absolutely love PGR3, but to use it as an example of where next-gen games should be going, while at the same time implying games like Crackdown are less 'next-gen' than PGR3 is frankly ridiculous.
    Edited by SomaticSense at 12/04/07 @ 11:21