Unplayable in 2023.

[UN0W3N]

The game is more unplayable today than it was in 2018 when I first installed the Steam version. I presume Rockstar "updated" GTA IV a lot in those five years, removing songs (adding crappy alternatives) but never caring about the lingering performance issues.

I tried various "fixes" for GTA IV over the past couple of days, but nothing truly remedied the severe and inexplicable frame rate drops while running this game on hardware specs way above its recommended parameters. By comparison, GTA V was buttery smooth for me on this same PC.

I have over 200 hours in GTA V (SP only) and I could only bring myself to endure GTA IV in its current state to 27 hours before deciding to uninstall once again and let it "stew" for another year or whenever I'll finally upgrade my rig.

This should serve as a warning to the game's abysmal performance regardless of hardware specifications. It's a piss poor console port which Rockstar simply doesn't care enough to fix at least to a decently playable degree. Shark Cards take precedence.

[Bender]

dunno what they did with the game installer, but i trying install game 2nd time after 5 years, and cant even install rockstar launcher. this piece of bugged code cant work propertly on modern hardware. very very sad

[Semi_Auto]

Look into DXVK. Makes the game perfectly playable on modern hardware.

[Bijiooo]

I have a few tricks that've really helped me out. I'm gonna assume you've heard and tried these, but I'm gonna offer them anyway. of course you can ignore this as you like. I've got an AMD CPU, NVIDIA GPU. both are still pretty hi-mid in 2023. not sure if that even matters with this title.

1. first and apparently most important, I only run this game WITH STEAM OVERLAY ON. (otherwise I prefer the NVIDIA overlay.) I think this is the one extremely-known "trick" for GTA IV PC, but like I said - I didn't know until I knew. maybe it can help somebody.

2. under the STEAM LAUNCH OPTIONS I've got: "-windowed -availablevidmem 4096 -norestrictions -percentvidmem 100 -noprechache".
and this runs the game really pretty well. I think especially the "-availablevidmen" and "-windowed". at least 60 fps, the occasional microstutter (that's frankly the least bearable one for me. for whatever reason, I'd take a CONSISTENTLY SLOW game over a FAST BUT HITCHY one. can't stand not knowing when a cut frame's coming, I guess).
it's all just from GOOGLE and REDDIT findings; it's not breakthrough information I'm providing, but it's so far the only setup I've found that seriously helps. someone else said DXVK, I've never been able to get the ----ing thing to run. I'm a casual, you see. I don't know nothing.

if this helps anybody, that's my job. I'm glad. if you've already tried it, continue to ignore it. I think with this one it's really machine-specific. and of course "-availablevidmem [number]" is going to depend on how much video memory you have. I've heard it suggested you go with half of what you've got, though I don't know if it matters, considering the game's not in the least optimized for hardware in the 2020s.

if this helps, I'm glad. if it's annoying to hear the same ♥♥♥♥ again, hey. I'm trying. be well. peacepeace -b23

[Night]

Press the Xbox button, temporarily solves the problem. However, you will have to press it again every time the fps drops.

[UN0W3N]

While I appreciate these tips, I have tried already both DXVK and the launch options. Even moddifying settings through the Nvidia Control Panel. Frame rate drops remained painfully consistent. And we're not talking 60 to 50. I'm referring to 60 dropping to 20.

I've noticed that it coincided with CPU usage spikes. A shame that this shoddy 2009 console port hogs a CPU from 2016 (Skylake 6700k - 4 cores / 8 threads), but it is what it is. I'll only reinstall this bloody game when I'll be able to test it on a Ryzen, probably.

[FacuPovv]

I followed this guide and the game works pretty fine, its not 100% perfect but im playing with no problem https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?l=brazilian&id=921826093

[Cordeiro Esteban]

dxvk

[Still B0r3d]

Originally posted by Cordeiro Esteban:

dxvk

THIS, use DXVK.

The problem is, partially, DirectX security updates messed with a lot of older games. DXVK is a Vulkan translation layer and works well with this game.

[UN0W3N]

Only that it doesn't work in my case. I tried DXVK, and the guides I could find on making this game less of a pain in the hind. I'll probably just wait for a "remaster" of GTA IV which might still happen sooner than me affording a brand new rig.

[Moltisanti]

in TBOGT when i go to start the misson mommas boy, after the cutscene it takes me into loading mode and stays there. The game wont load and I cant do the misson which results that I can't finish the game. I tried restarting, skipping the cutscene, reinstalling the game. Nothing worked, please help me

[retro_Ed]

Game runs great on Steam Deck....

[UN0W3N]

Originally posted by retro_Ed:

Game runs great on Steam Deck....

Good to know.

[retro_Ed]

Originally posted by UN0W3N:

Originally posted by retro_Ed:

Game runs great on Steam Deck....

Good to know.

And "great" means about 30fps 2560 x 1440p, default settings and 25Watt power draw.

[UN0W3N]

Steam Deck's resolution in 1280x800, yet 30 fps is the real deal breaker for me. As long as you limit its usage to small fry indie titles, the Deck is fine. Running a beefy GTA entry on it, remains a pipe dream.

[retro_Ed]

Originally posted by UN0W3N:

Steam Deck's resolution in 1280x800, yet 30 fps is the real deal breaker for me. As long as you limit its usage to small fry indie titles, the Deck is fine. Running a beefy GTA entry on it, remains a pipe dream.

It is possible to set games resolution up to 4K (Internal) on Deck. Yes, display is 800p.

GTA 4 has worst (read=no) antialiasing so running game 1440p will give a nice SSAA smoothed image. And just setting lower resolution on Deck it will give 60fps gameplay.

Well, anything above 800p gives some level of SSAA
1440p is just maximum what system can run with stable frametimes.