As anticipation builds for the next Grand Theft Auto, players are revisiting the roots of the series' multiplayer. While the industry now focuses on the massive, multi-stage heists and criminal empires of modern online modes, Grand Theft Auto 4 offered a much simpler, albeit chaotic, multiplayer experience that remains accessible today.
The Evolution of Multiplayer Chaos
When Grand Theft Auto 4 launched, its multiplayer mode served as a departure from the series' single-player narrative. On PC, the experience supported up to 32 players, doubling the 16-player limit found on consoles at the time. This increased scale allowed for chaotic scenarios, such as races involving dozens of fire engines or team-based modes that could be heavily modified by players.
Options were a core part of the experience. Players could toggle traffic and pedestrians, limit weapon sets to specific items like rocket launchers, or restrict play to specific sections of Liberty City. This flexibility created a distinct environment where organized crime contracts or simple deathmatches could quickly turn into unpredictable, visceral encounters.
Accessing GTA 4 Multiplayer in 2026
Rockstar Games officially ended support for Grand Theft Auto 4's multiplayer servers in 2020. However, the game remains playable in a multiplayer capacity through GTA Connected, a community project that restores and maintains connectivity for the PC version.
The transition from the structured, serious tone of Niko Bellic’s single-player story to the "clownish stupidity" of multiplayer highlighted a unique shift in the series' identity. Even without the modern features that have made GTA Online a long-term lifestyle for millions, the foundation laid by GTA 4—relying on player-driven chaos and custom rule sets—remains a notable piece of the franchise's history.