At approximately 1:45AM EST the Xbox 360 version of Grand Theft Auto IV was leaked onto the internet. According to our X3F tipsters, who better plan on actually buying the game, thousands of users are leeching the 6.36 GB potential game of the year candidate. The release is a rip of the PAL version, specifically from the Asian market, and comes a mere six days before retailers place the game on store shelves.We don't want to get on our soapbox here but we hope our readers would shy away from downloading a full version of the game, especially considering the team at Rockstar North have garnered near-perfect review scores for the release. Why? Well, it's illegal kids ... actually come to think of it, this leak is deliciously ironic. Isn't it?
[Thanks, Michael S.T.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
4-23-2008 @ 10:04AM
SadisticHam said...
Apparently theres already footage on youtube, gahh this is Halo all over again, Got to keep my head down for a week to avoid seeing any spoilers.
Reply
4-23-2008 @ 10:07AM
SugarDaddy said...
Take 2 is all over that. They're already being removed.
4-23-2008 @ 10:15AM
xenocidic said...
here's a link to the footage:
http://xenocidic.com/2008/04/23/actual-gta-iv-footage-intro-and-a-bit-of-gameplay.aspx
4-23-2008 @ 12:36PM
xenocidic said...
footage r gone
4-23-2008 @ 10:05AM
SugarDaddy said...
No worries. I already pre-ordered this bad arse. There's no chance in hell that I won't pay for this guaranteed fine work of video gaming excellence.
Reply
4-23-2008 @ 10:05AM
UNSCleric said...
Why even report on this and give it even more downloaders and attention?
Reply
4-23-2008 @ 10:09AM
SugarDaddy said...
I don't know, how about journalistic integrity? *Caugh*
4-23-2008 @ 10:10AM
Xav de Matos said...
Well that and our inbox was starting to get full with the tips.
We can't ignore the situation, we kind of are responsible for reporting news and this is news.
4-23-2008 @ 11:20AM
joey said...
Don't you need a modded 360 in the first place?
And if you have a modded 360 bet you've been F5ing a torrent site for gta iv for awhile now anyways.
4-23-2008 @ 3:55PM
JerkfacedFed said...
Dumb article, woww, they ripped an iso of a DVD. You still cant play unsigned code on a 360, nobody has been able to yet. Ignore this crap.
4-23-2008 @ 10:07AM
pandlcg said...
I feel that any time a game is shipped to retailers over a week in advance that there are going to be leaked copies both online and in stores, especially for highly anticipated games.
I'd just ship it later or let retailers start selling it right away.
Reply
4-23-2008 @ 10:12AM
R said...
I wonder if the ASIA PAL version of it works on European PAL systems ? I'm waiting to buy it on play-asia
Reply
4-23-2008 @ 11:26AM
Adam said...
It will do i believe, I think all PAL versions are the same.
4-23-2008 @ 10:12AM
UNSCleric said...
Every game gets leaked though, how is it news? All it does is contribute to the problem, especially when it's bittorrent we're talking about.
Reply
4-23-2008 @ 10:16AM
SugarDaddy said...
Just about every game that ships early gets leaked, sure. But on a blog about video games, this is totally relevant.
That's like saying news outlets shouldn't report casualties in iraq. I mean, it's a war and there are casualties, right? So why report it? And if you can't see the fault in that, then you're hopeless.
4-23-2008 @ 10:21AM
UNSCleric said...
What a retarded comparison. The difference is that leaked games grow in popularity virally, so when big news sites start reporting on it, all that haopens is that the speed in which people are downloading them goes faster, and more people become aware of the pirating scene and may get into it.
Reporting on US troops casualties, however, is the exact opposite. We only hear about a fraction of the deaths for one thing, but reporting on them actually has the opposite effect, in that it might get people to stop supporting the war. With GTA IV being on BT, there's nothing we can do but just ignore it, there's nothing you can do to stop it, so it's best to just not give it the attention it craves.
4-23-2008 @ 10:29AM
SugarDaddy said...
It's a perfectly valid analogy. Some people think that casualties should not be reported because it causes "war-weariness" (to quote Civilization). So they get mad at journalists for reporting on it. It is the job of a journalist not to take a position and report on EVERYTHING even if it goes against their own politics or worldview or whatever.
That is what X3F is doing here, and you are getting mad at them. They are actually even taking a position here and telling people not to download it, and yet you still criticize them.
You only THINK that reporting will lead to increased leakage. However, did you think that it may lead to an increase in people advocating reasons why it should not be downloaded? You have no statistics one way or the other, so let X3F do their job and report.
4-23-2008 @ 10:30AM
Xav de Matos said...
Well not every game is Grand Theft Auto, a guaranteed multi-million seller.
That's why.
When I start posting about Barbie's Horse Adventure 9 being leaked then you can question it.
But GTA? Come on sir.
4-23-2008 @ 11:00AM
DemonGSides said...
Also; due to the fact that we are winning the Iraq War, the liberal media has all but abandoned reporting on it. So, success means less reporting? Makes no sense, sorry =(
4-23-2008 @ 11:19AM
Jeff Tronti said...
Xav. You beter not hold out on my Barbie's horse adventure info. I live for Barbie's horse adventure.