Multiplayer in GTA IV

An Xbox Live pre-game lobby. Shown here is the game along with the number of players. Located each to next of the player's ID is their current rank. The player with a crown is the host, and in control of the game options, and game type. If the host is kicked, another player is then the host. Any players which have a headset can be seen as the ones with the transmitter icon next to the rank. In the bottom left corner is the amount of currency held by the player. In place of this may be the timer which will countdown when all players, or the host and a majority are ready. The boxes with and without check marks denote which player are, and aren't ready as well as the game description in the top right corner. If an invitation is sent by another player a notification will pop-up in the top-right corner of the screen. Also note that the number that appears next to the player at the top is the number of other players in the lobby that voted to "kick" them.

Multiplayer is a new feature in Grand Theft Auto IV that has immensely expanded multiplayer functions that were otherwise absent, or limited in previous GTA games.

Basic information

Multiplayer in GTA IV is hosted on the PlayStation Network (PS3), Xbox Live (Xbox 360), and Games for Windows (PC). The game can support up to sixteen players on Xbox 360 and PS3, and up to 32 on the PC. Gameplay features differ slightly to that of standard single player. The player can always sprint and never will get tired, and can change weapons more quickly. Health can also be collected while in a vehicle therefore repairing it. Weapons picked up will have a larger amount of ammunition when picked up. The phone can be accessed at any point during gameplay. GPS waypoints can still be placed on the radar and are visible to all players, along with the guided route (if enabled through the main options of the game). Whenever someone is killed whether it be by other players, or AI a message will appear in the top-left corner reading "<<PSN/XBL name>> Died" or "<<PSN/XBL name>> killed <<PSN/XBL name>>". The message used to describe the killing differs between weapons. Some games require the player to be on a team. The player's online ID display matches that of their respective team. As the players are real they can use certain tactics such as the drive-by shooting. Death of the player will result in loss of all current weapons; upon respawning the player is granted a few seconds of invincibility. Cheats are disabled in multiplayer. Everything else about multiplayer is listed below.

Accessing multiplayer

Multiplayer is available from the beginning of the game though Niko actually receives his real phone in the second mission. To access multiplayer, the player has to bring up his/her cell phone and select "multiplayer". This will bring up a new menu which contains six options:

Games - Brings the player to two options, Quick Match, and Custom Match. Quick match allows the player to jump into a game via the game lobby. And Custom Match allows the player to customize the game type, as well as the private slots (the number of players that require a game invite to join).

Party Mode

An invite-only variant of free mode. The player(s) are free to do as they wish as with free mode. Each one also starts party mode at the Alderney Casino (also marked with a safehouse icon). Default settings are used here. If at least two players are in the game, then they can start any game (see above). When the host leaves, then another player is appointed party leader.

Invites

The third in the menu, game invites are shown here. Selecting one of these will allow the player to join the game in which the player's friend(s) are in. Invites last until the game session is over. If waited too long the player can still join but they will have skipped the game lobby. These can be sent if the player is or isn't already in a game session. Invites sent to someone playing single player will appear just like a text message notification does.

A multiplayer invite in single player.
The invite as seen on the phone.

Player Model

Selecting this allows the player to customize the look of their multiplayer character. As with each rank the player will unlock more clothing. After ranking up to level 1, the player has a choice of a zombie model. If the player is in the game lobby, and is the host they can change their model before starting. Note that in some games more specifically Turf War, Bomb Da Base II, Hangman's NOOSE, and Deal Breaker the player will assume the appearance of a generic gang member. Also if the player is a lobby and is the host they can change the model there, but this isn't the case if the player is someone who joined.

Preferences

Options that the player can change. The three options are auto-aim, police, and friendly fire. Each can be set to disallow, don't care, or allow. Players join games based on their preferences, unless they use an invite. Auto-aiming only works against people who attack the player. So innocent pedestrians who pose no threat to the player won't be auto targeted. This also has to be enabled through the main options menu. Though if reticule health is enabled, and the player's weapon target is set ot complex the current health of an NPC can still be tracked. With police enabled the wanted system works just as it would in single player. Also wanted levels are only visible through the player's perspective, due to this others can only have a sense of the wanted level of another player based on the quantity of law enforcement groups pursing one another. Police will also attempt to kill players rather than arrest them. None of the police settings apply in a party mode.

Tutorial

A quick tutorial about multiplayer. Selecting this will transport the player to Charge Island where the game gives beginners instructions about weapons, pickups, games, and teams. To view the tutorial the player cannot have a wanted level.

Phonebook

This contains the other members of the game session which can be called (via headset/microphone), as well as Zit! which is always in the phonebook. Players can also partially communicate with others via the player model. While on foot pressing the L2 button will allow players to partially converse will others. Players are also given to choice to "mute", and "unmute" other players. If one player is muted by all the other players that all started in the lobby then they can't receive calls until they are unmuted. Provided there is at least three players two can kick another player from the game. This can be used if a player is repeatedly causing trouble for other players, or just if the others want to maintain a private match. Kicking can also be used in the game lobby. If someone is kicked from a game, then they can't return to it. Upon using this a message will appear in the top left corner reading "<<PSN/XBL name>> Wants to Kick <<PSN/XBL name>>". During the game session the players can be viewed by pressing down on the d-pad of the controller.

The phonebook which contains all players which are identified through their IDs.
In every game there is a menu which can be accessed. This lists all the players as well as the game mode.

Leave Game

Self explanatory, selecting this will allow the player to leave the current game session, and return to single player. The player can also leave by accessing options, and selecting leave under the game menu.

Game Info

Information on the current game. Has the description of the game, as well as the set preferences, and host's options.

Multiplayer

Selecting this will let the player start a new game, a party mode, or with the downloaded TLAD, and TBOGT, change the episode.

Friends

Allows the player to send a game invite for friends to join them. Friends can only be invited if they have a IV icon () next to their name. If the friend doesn't have one and their name is in black they are online but not playing GTA IV. If the name is in red however they are offline.

Next Game

Selecting this, and selecting another game allows the player to suggest the next game. If all players suggest the same game, a time will count down from 8:00 before starting the new game.

Game types

Player match

Player Match puts the player up against other GTA gamers in every possible multiplayer mode. Scores in these matches are not carried over into other matches, and are irrelevant once the time is up. You also cannot earn money or achievements in this mode; it is a casual mode, well-suited to socialising and to getting a feel for the different modes before jumping into Ranked matches.

Ranked match

The player model screen. The player is allowed to put together individual pieces of clothing, or to randomize the look of their online character even changing between a standard clothed male, or female character, to a Zombie player, or a nude character.

Ranked Matches — either on PlayStation Network or Xbox Live — give the player a rank which will gradually increase (to a maximum rank of 10) as they advance and earn money. Advancing in rank unlocks additional clothing for one's multiplayer character. Some money earned in team matches is split up equally (Turf War, Team Car Jack City). Although in others the amount of money the player the player earns depends on how much they have made (Team Deathmatch, Hangman's NOOSE, Deal Breaker, and Bomb Da Base II). Any money received at the end of one of the three co-op games is the same for everyone. Below is a list showing the amount of money needed to get to each rank. If the player is in a game they may have to spectate before the current game ends and they can join in. Leaving the game will see that no money or network stats are recorded, this is the same if the player is kicked. Killing oneself or member of the same team will cost the player (or team) a loss of $100. The same applies to being killed by an NPC. Ranked money from regular GTA IV will carry on to TLAD and TBOGT.

Ranking system

0=0
1=1,000
2=10,000
3=50,000
4=100,000
5=250,000
6=500,000
7=750,000
8=1,000,000
9=2,500,000
10=5,000,000

Game options

These are the options in which the host of the game (represented by a crown icon) can alter. Anything native to a game session is not listed here.

Location

Liberty City
Alderney
Algonquin
Bohan
Dukes/Broker
Acter Industrial
Prison
Docks
Happiness Island
Colony Island
Charge Island
Airport

Duration

5 minutes
10 minutes
15 minutes
20 minutes
30 minutes
45 minutes
60 minutes
$500
$1000
$2500
$5000
$7500
$10000

Weapons

Weak
Standard
Powerful
Pistols
Shotguns
Projectiles
Melee
SMGs
Assault rifles
Rocket launchers
Sniper rifles
All

Traffic

Parked
Low
Medium
High

Pedestrians

Off
Low
Medium
High

Blips

None
All
Near
Far
Leader

Online ID Display

On
Off

Reticule Health

On
Off

Voice Chat

On
Off

Respawn Distance

Near
Medium
Far

Respawn Time

1 second
5 seconds
10 seconds
15 seconds
20 seconds
25 seconds
30 seconds

Time of Day

Random
Morning
Midday
Evening
Midnight

Weather

Variable
Clear
Overcast
Drizzle
Rain
Foggy

Statistics

Upon completing a game, a statistics screen will appear on the screen. This will list all the players, along with their rank, and how much money is need to gain a level up. It also shows how much money the player has made, how many kills, how much deaths. It will also show things that are native to the game such as how many turfs were taken over in Turf War, how many cars were delivered in Car Jack City, what place the player was in during a race, or a deathmatch, or how many tasks were carried through in Mafiya Work. Also the player can search stats in the option menu by pressing the start button. These are worldwide stats that track every game except for free mode, and party mode. These can only be viewed in single player.

The stats that follow the end of a game. This will still appear to the player remaining.
Network stats for a deathmatch. Shown here is the online ID, ranking, network ranking, times played, times won, score, kills, and deaths. The player can filter results by searching for theirs, or by friends as well as go directly go to the player's own score.

Terms

Weapon	Kill terms
Fist, Bat	battered / beat down / bludgeoned / brained / broke / crack / hammered / hommored / pummeled / smashed
Knife	butchered / cut up / diced / eviscerated / filleted / slashed / spiked / stabbed / stuck it to / striped
Handguns	2nd amendmented / capped / clipped / clocked / deaded / pistoled / popped / shot / smoked / whacked
Shotguns	12 bored / blew away / double barreled / farmed / opened up / perforated / pumped / put a load in / shelled / shottied
SMGs	cancelled / crossed out / cut down / massacred / peppered / plugged / riddled / SMGed / sprayed / ventilated
Assault Rifles	3rd worlded / annihilated / armied / decommissioned / drilled / ended / killed / machined / punctuated / terminated
Sniper Rifles	assassinated / brought down / caught out / high-calibered / lightning bolted / nailed / picked off / sniped / struck down / surprised
Molotov Cocktails	barbecued / blazed / burnt / charred / cindered / cooked / flame grilled / ignited / roasted / torched
Explosives	atomized / blasted / blew up / blitzed / detonated / fucked up / pulverized / shocked & awed / totaled / vaporized
Vehicles	accidented / flattened / gouranga'd / hit and runned / manslaughtered / plowed / ran-over / shocked / splattered / steamrollered

Modes

Freeroam modes

Mode	Players	Objective
Free Mode	2-16	This mode is similar to the single-player game, except played with friends. It is a complete free-for-all, with no rules, objectives, time limit or score. Like Party Mode, it does not gain the player game money or achievements.
Party mode	2-8	Basically the same as free mode but can only be entered with a game invitation. Party Mode throws everyone on the same team and sets everyone to respawn in the exact same location the Alderney casino. First-aid kits, armor, and weapons regularly spawn here, as well as all of Liberty City. There are no police in Party Mode, as the name would suggest, Party Mode is a way of collecting all of your friends before entering other game modes, and does not gain the player game money or achievements.

Competitive modes

Mode	Players	Objective
Deathmatch	2-16	A complete free for all. Anything goes. Combat is confined to specific areas of Liberty City in order to keep the action focused. Police (including NOOSE and/or FIB) are optionally present, depending on the host's chosen settings, and will not attempt to arrest players, instead attempting to kill them.
Mafiya Work	2-8	Working under the direction of Kenny Petrovic via the cellphone, the player competes against other players in a series of mini-missions. This may involve picking up recruits for the firm, taking out a target, or even collecting weapons from Petrovic to use against others.
Car Jack City	4-16	Car Jack City pits the player against everyone else in a race to steal vehicles for Kenny Petrovic. The amount of money earned depends on the condition of the car, except if the vehicle contains drugs. If the host has allowed police, they will try to stop players from taking vehicles to drop-off points. Also health pickups don't fix the vehicles/ TIP: Destroy other players' cars.

Team modes

Mode	Players	Objective
Team Deathmatch	2-16 (up to 8 teams of two)	Players work as a team to kill other team(s) for money; the crew with the most cash at the end of the round wins. There are no restrictions. Each player will gain the money they have personally earned by killing opponents. Police are present in this game (including NOOSE/FIB at 4 wanted level stars).
Team Mafiya Work	2-16 (up to 8 teams of two)	The player is a member of a crew doing contract work for Kenny Petrovic as with regular Mafiya Work. These are time-limited missions including escorting wanted men, picking up items and stealing cars. Rival crews attempt to accomplish the same task. Interfering with other crews will slow their progress and increase one's chances of earning the money. Each contract completed gives the team cash, and the crew with the most cash at the end of the round wins.
Team Car Jack City	2-8 teams	The same as regular Car Jack City, vehicles will randomly spawn on the map, and the players have be the first ones to get them, and take them to the drop-off point. The condition of the car determines the amount of money earned for the player, unless the vehicle is stuffed with drugs. The teams also share the money equally.
Cops 'n' Crooks	4-16 (two 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, or destroying the getaway vehicle; Crooks win by filling up a getaway vehicle with members of their team, or killing all the Cops. Only 4 people can escape in the getaway vehicle. Players cannot respawn in this mode.
Turf War	2 teams only	A timed capture-the-base mode. There are a number of bases around the map which can be taken by standing near them for a short period of time. The more players that stand at a base, the faster it can be captured. The more bases a team owns, the faster their cash score increases. If a gang is on or near a base, their rivals won't be able to take control of it. The team with the most cash at the end of the round wins.

Cooperative missions

Mode	Players	Objective
Deal Breaker	2-4	Under orders of Kenny Petrovic, players must ambush a drug deal between the Angels of Death, and an unspecified Mafia family. The deal is underway at the Acter Industrial Park. The objective here is to eliminate both parties, collect the drugs, and meet back at the rendezvous point. Some of the witnesses may attempt to escape by boat, by bike, or even both. Only 5 respawns on Easy, 4 respawns on Medium, 3 respawns on Hard. are granted. TIP: There is a helicopter near the mansion a couple of blocks north of the starting point. To speed the mission up, there are RPGs on some of the floors of the building, which can be used to kill the AOD if they escape by boat.
Hangman's NOOSE	2-4	Russian Mafia boss Kenny Petrovic has illegally flown into Francis International Airport, and someone has tipped off the cops. The objective is to escort Petrovic to safety while being pursued by the Liberty City Police Department's NOOSE (SWAT) division. Only 5 respawns on Easy, 4 respawns on Medium, 3 respawns on Hard are granted. TIP: While some players lay waste to the NOOSE agents, get one player to sneak away, and drive around the airport to the opposite end of the airstrip. You should find 2 Annihilators, which are easily jacked. Swing around to grab your crew, and fly to the safe zone. Only 5 respawns on Easy, 4 respawns on Medium, 3 respawns on Hard. are granted, making sustained survival a priority.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Bomb Da Base II	2-4	Bomb Da Base II (its name referring to a mission from GTA III) requires a gang of players to work in unison and sabotage the Platypus, a ship being used by the Albanians for exporting cars. Only 5 respawns on Easy, 4 respawns on Medium, 3 respawns on Hard. Unlike the other two, survival isn't needed as you will still receive money for completing the mission.TIP: When you get to the boat, there are some good sniper spot on the surrounding buildings and crane towers. Get your best marksman to take a point and pick off the thugs on the boat. Also to help beat the target score have one player fly to the tower at the west end of the ship. From there they can quickly plant the bomb, while the other players, exploit a glitch to gain easy access to the hull.

Race modes

Mode	Players	Objective
Race	2-16	Race to the finish through each checkpoint in order. If the player takes a wrong turn or otherwise messes up, they can respawn at the last checkpoint passed. There is a large selection of races for cars, boats, and helicopters - players can choose laps and vehicle class/type. There are two types of races: Free Race and Cannonball Run. Free Races are point-to-point races, where the first one to the finish wins. Cannonball Runs are races where participants must traverse several checkpoints in any way possible.
GTA Race	2-16	Similar to the orthodox Race, but with the added element of combat. This is a checkpoint race where participants can also pick up weapons spawned en route to help take out opponents. The vehicle can be exited during this type of race. Unlike the standard race, the player will receive money for every kill which they have made.

Achievements/Trophies in multiplayer

Main article: Achievements in GTA IV.

Achievement	Means of acquirement
Teamplayer	Kill 5 opposing team members.
Cut Your Teeth	Earn a rank promotion.
Join the Midnight Club	Achieve first place in a race with damage enabled, but minimal damage to your vehicle.
Fly The Co-Op	Complete Deal Breaker in under 7:04 Hangman's Noose in under 2:32 seconds Bomb Da Base II in under 5:56 seconds.
Taking it For The Team	Have your team win in all ranked Multiplayer games.
Top The Midnight Club	Win 20 races. All on different tracks.
Auf Wiedersehen Petrovic	Win in all variations of multiplayer as well as each side in Cops n Crooks.
Top of the Food Chain	Kill twenty players with a pistol in deathmatch.
Let Sleeping Rockstars Lie	Kill a Rockstar developer, or another player who has this achievement in any multiplayer game.
Wanted	Reach level 10 in multiplayer.

Notes

Despite whatever weapon class is on the player can still receive weapons from other sources. Some of these are pump shotguns, carbine rifles, rocket launchers, and pistols. RPGs can be obtained from entering a parked Annihilator, and the other weapons are standard issue for NOOSE, and LCPD.

Any interiors that are otherwise inaccessible, will be accessible during multiplayer.

Glitches that work in single player also work in multiplayer.

In most deathmatches set at Francis International Airport, players will most likely use the Annihilators.

Tips

With reticule health the player can see that there are 8 bars inside the reticule. One headshot takes away seven, so two headshots will kill an opponent. This does not apply to NPC pedestrians where just one headshot would kill one.

Reloading after every kill helps so the player won't run out of ammunition, it also helps to always have full health, and full armor. Be careful though, people might surprisingly approach you while you are reloading and there is a chance of a player spawning near you.This is especially important if you are using a gun that takes a long time to reload.

If someone is using a dumpster or similar object for cover, aiming for their feet can inflict damage.

Auto-aiming can also help. Keeping the auto-aim reticule on someone while they are moving, allows the player to track their every movement.

Using the in-game map can help the player track what other weapons players have picked up.

Crouching with a weapon can minimize the recoil given off by it and increases accuracy. Though doing this the player can expose themselves.

If someone else is coming towards the player in a vehicle, they can either roll, or move out of the path of the other, and have a better chance for a kill.

In a deathmatch with only sniper rifles, instead of using it the conventional way, using the cover system can be a better way.

If a deathmatch is set in the airport most players will either use the Annihilators, or use the blue hell glitch to enter the terminal, and other buildings. In such an event hide out until the round is over so the opponents don't get money for glitching.

Don't hide at the edge of your cover, as this can give opposing players more of a target to hit.
While playing disallow a good strategy is to wall shoot, A good way to practice this is in Colony Island where you line up the reticule with the edge of a wall and shoot at a friend and make sure to the friend you were not visible.

External links

GTA4.net - Multiplayer: gametypes, modes, online.
GTASeries - Detailed guide of multiplayer clothing.