Grand Theft Auto IV, surpassed gamers' expectations, and pushed farther than any other Grand Theft Auto game in the series. From a redesigned version of Liberty City, to the transition to an incredible new game engine, Grand Theft Auto IV brought more realism to the video game world than ever before. Released on April 29, 2008, the game was Rockstar's best selling game yet. A major commercial and critical success, Grand Theft Auto IV broke industry records with sales of around 3.6 million units on its first day of release and grossing more than $500 million in revenue in the first week, from an estimated 6 million units sold worldwide. As of 16 August 2008, the game has sold over 10 million copies. Grand Theft Auto IV received overwhelmingly positive reviews, becoming one of the highest-rated games of all-time on aggregated review websites.

Grand Theft Auto IV follows the story of Niko Bellic, an illegal immigrant and veteran of the Bosnian War. After persuasion from his cousin Roman who immigrated to America years prior to the game's opening, Niko leaves Eastern Europe to come to Liberty City, where he hopes to forget his criminal past and pursue the American Dream. After his arrival, however, Niko quickly learns that Roman's tales of riches and luxury were lies concealing Roman's struggles with debt and gangsters. Niko aids Roman in his troubles while hoping to carve out a new life for himself in the city.

The game is set in a redesigned rendition of Liberty City, looking more like modern day New York City than any of the previous Gran Theft Auto games. GTA IV's city landscape is the largest yet, and in addition to the game's incredibly detailed scenery, the gunfight combat system has also been reworked to a third-person scheme. The player can slide to cover, lock on, blindfire, and free aim.

Another feature that was reworked is the Wanted level system which operates differently from previous GTA games. When the police are in pursuit of Niko, a search radius appears on the map in which the police will be looking for him. The size of this radius increases with the player's wanted level and re-centres itself on Niko's location if he is spotted by the police. Once you leave the radius, the Police will slowly stop looking for Niko - No more wondering how far you have to run. Also, pedestrians with cellphones can report crimes they witness in the surrounding environment.

The immense success of Grand Theft Auto IV has brought upon two episodic expansion packs which are being developed for the Xbox 360, the first of which is entitled The Lost and Damned and was released on 17 February 2009. With it's incredible commercial success, and next-gen gameplay, Grand Theft Auto IV is a game that will not soon be forgotten.

• For Niko Bellic, fresh off the boat from Europe, it is the hope he can escape his past. For his cousin, Roman, it is the vision that together they can find fortune in Liberty City, gateway to the land of opportunity. As they slip into debt and are dragged into a criminal underworld by a series of shysters, thieves and sociopaths, they discover that the reality is very different from the dream in a city that worships money and status, and is heaven for those who have them and a living nightmare for those who don't.