Can You Play GTA 4 Online for Free? No — Servers Shut Down in 2021

No. Grand Theft Auto IV multiplayer was permanently shut down on December 15, 2021 (Rockstar Games). The servers are gone.

What's Still Playable

• Single-player campaign – Full story, side missions, Liberty City exploration. Offline only.
• Episodes from Liberty City (Lost and Damned, Ballad of Gay Tony) – Standalone expansions, single-player only.

Why "Free Online" Claims Are Scams

• No official servers exist.
• "Private servers" for GTA IV don't exist (unlike SA-MP for San Andreas).
• Downloads promising "GTA IV Online" are malware, survey traps, or FiveM (which is for GTA V).

Modern Alternatives

• GTA Online (GTA V) – Free with GTA V purchase. Massive, updated weekly, cross-play (PC/PS/Xbox).
• Red Dead Online – Similar open-world multiplayer.
• FiveM / alt:V / RageMP – GTA V roleplay/custom servers (PC only).
• SA-MP / open.mp – GTA: San Andreas multiplayer (still alive, free).

Buy GTA V on sale ($15–20) for the living online experience. GTA IV single-player remains a masterpiece—play that offline.