Release date: Out Now

Publisher: Rockstar

Developer: Rockstar

Platform: Xbox 360

Genre: Action

No. Players: 1

No. Live players: 1 - 4

Official link

The original 'sand box' game heads to the Xbox 360 in next-gen High Definition splendour. This time gamers take on the role of Niko Bellic, a newly arrived resident of Liberty City that arrives to help his cousin out of trouble.

The following info about GTAIV has been put together by XBW member Karachi King.

Setting - Liberty City modern time

Main Protagonist - Niko Bellic

The main protagonist for the next installment of the Grand Theft Auto franchise is to be an Eastern European fella who is in his mid 30's by the name of Niko Bellic - (Bell-ich) - who comes to Liberty City after his couisn Roman persuded him to come. The main protaganist was nameless for a short while until the May edition of Game Informer Magazine confimred the protaganists name.

Storyline

You start out as a low life, Eastern European immigrant going by the name of Niko Bellic, persuaded to travel to Liberty City by his cousin, Roman. Roman claims to all up in riches, living the nice life with 15 cars, 4 hot tubs and plenty of beautiful girls to go around. Turns out Roman isn't what he seems to be making himself out to be.... Nothing he's said is true. Even though they don't always get along and are constantly bickering, Roman becomes an important guideline for you at the beginning. Being the only person in the entire city that you know, he becomes the main source for connections at the start.

Roman is in fact in a lot of trouble with a lot of people who are after him for unpaid money and various other forms of debt, and he needs Nikos help!

The story will be delievered in a variety of new ways, allowing, and i quote; 'The player to create their own destiny' This clearly means missions will have several possible outcomes, all of which ultimately effect the outcome of the game and the relationships between Niko and the supporting cast.

• Xbox 360 Exclusive Episodic Content confirmed to be released sometime in 2008.
• Uses Rockstar's RAGE(Rockstar Advanced Game Engine), which was used in Table Tennis.

Special Edition available as well.

The Grand Theft Auto IV Special Edition will be presented in a customized Grand Theft Auto metal safety deposit box. The box will contain:

• The Grand Theft Auto IV Art Book, featuring never-before-seen production artwork from Grand Theft Auto IV.
• Selected soundtrack CD from Grand Theft Auto IV, featuring new material from top artists, only available on this release.
• An exclusive Rockstar keychain for the safety deposit box keys.
• Completing the collection is a limited edition Rockstar duffel bag.

Official Multiplayer Mode Details :

Race

• Race to the finish through each checkpoint in order. If you take a wrong turn or mess up in some way, you can respawn your vehicle on the last checkpoint you passed. There is a large selection of races for cars, boats, and helicopters – you can choose laps and vehicle class/type.
• This mode has two sub-modes: Free Race and Cannonball Run.
• Free Race are point-to-point races. First one to reach the end point wins.
• Cannonball Run are races where you have to traverse several checkpoints any way you can.

GTA Race

• Similar to the orthodox Race, but with the added element of combat. Race and fight your way through the checkpoints in order and then hit the finish, but this time you can also pick up the weapons spawned en route to help take out your opponents. You can also exit the vehicle during the road races.

Team Deathmatch (2-8 Teams)

• Players work as a team to rub out other teams for money - and the crew with the most cash at the end of the round wins. Take the other crew down. Remember to loot the cash dropped by deceased players. That's the way to get ahead.

Team Mafiya Work (2-8 Teams)

• You’re a member of a crew doing contract work for the mafiya - including such plum gigs as escorting wanted men, picking up MacGuffins and stealing cars. Work as a team to complete contracts before the time period ends and get the rewards. You’ll probably want to do your best to scupper the other crew’s work as well. Each contract you complete gives your team cash, and the crew with the most cash at the end of the round wins.

Team Car Jack City (2-8 Teams)

• Cars spawn parked around the map and the teams must steal them and take them to a drop off point. The cash teams get for dropping off stolen vehicles depends on their condition – teams get less cash the more damaged they are. The exception to this are special bonus cars, stuffed with drugs, which give a set amount of cash on delivery no matter how damaged they are. Your crew has to get hold of whatever vehicles the boss wants. Whichever crew makes the most money wins. Simple.

Cops n’ Crooks (2 teams only)

• A team-based mode in which the Crooks must get their Boss to safety, while the Cops have to take him down. The Boss is marked with a cross hair. This mode has two sub-modes: All for One and One for All.
• In All for One, one team is made up of Crooks and a Boss, and the other team is made up of Cops. The Cops are trying to hunt down and kill the Boss while the Crooks are trying to protect him. The Cops win by killing the Boss and the Crooks win by getting the Boss safely to the getaway vehicle and escaping.
• One for All is similar but there is no Boss. Here, the Cops win by killing all of the Crooks and the Crooks win by filling up a getaway vehicle with members of their team. Only 4 people can escape in the getaway vehicle. Players cannot respawn in this mode.
• Both of these variations can be won by the Cops if they manage to destroy the getaway vehicle.

Turf War (2 teams only)

• A timed capture-the-base mode. There are a number of bases around the map that you have to take by standing on them for a short period of time. The more players that are on a base, the faster it can be captured. The more bases that your team owns, the faster your team’s cash score increases. If the rival gang is on or near a base, you won't be able to take control of it - so do what you can to try and... displace them. The team with the most cash at the end of the round wins.