Rockstar has confirmed that Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA IV) is no longer available for purchase on Steam due to a Games for Windows Live platform issue linked to game keys. Microsoft stopped supporting the platform in 2013 which means Rockstar was unable to generate new keys for GTA IV since then. However, they have had ample to go around, until now.
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Rockstar told The Verge that “with Microsoft no longer supporting Games for Windows Live, it is no longer possible to generate the additional keys needed to continue selling the current version of the game.” Those who own it can play it but those who don’t, won’t be able to purchase it.
Rockstar has never fully patched the service out of GTA IV. Something they should have done years ago even though the game was working. Users have found ways to get around some of the Games For Windows Live issues but the inability to purchase the game cannot be fixed unless Rockstar and Microsoft make a plan.
If you are looking to purchase GTA IV then hang on for a bit as Rockstar try and sort out the issue and bring the game back onto the Steam platform.
Grand Theft Auto IV is not the first game to suffer from a Games For Windows Live issue. Various titles like the Batman series, Dark Souls and Bioshock all allowed users to migrate off the platform when it began to shut down in 2013. GTA IV just decided to stay put.
