The Grand Theft Auto series is monumental, with beloved entries that have sold tens of millions of copies worldwide. Despite this, 2008’s Grand Theft Auto IV is often disregarded and forgotten about — and unfairly so, as it’s one of the best in the series. While there are a number of reasons GTA IV is such a classic, arguably the most important factor is the way it paved the way for what would become Grand Theft Auto Online. Without GTA IV, it’s likely GTA Online wouldn’t exist, or at the very least, it would look much different today. Sure, the 2008 game’s multiplayer pillar was rudimentary, but GTA Online owes a lot to what Rockstar did with GTA IV — which is currently celebrating its 15th anniversary.
