Yet another screenshot has been added to our ever-growing collection of GTA IV eye candy. This latest addition comes from the GamePro hands-on preview.

If you're under the impression that the city has been lightly dusted with a blanket of snow, sorry to disappoint -- GamePro has upped the brightness and contrast of their GTA IV images. Hence the whiteness.

Thanks to Chris_GTR1 for bringing this to our attention. You can discuss this latest screenshot in this thread over on our forums.

We have updated our screenshot gallery with two screenshots that were posted over at IGN. The screenshots featured earlier this month in magazines such as Computerbild-Spiele, Games Master and PSM3.

See all the screenshots in our gallery

We also managed to get our hands on this artwork, which also featured in the same magazines:

Artwork Gallery

The latest -- and eagerly anticipated -- previews have finally landed! As we've been saying for a few days now, Kikizo, IGN, CVG, GameSpy, 1UP, Team XBox and Gamespot (amongst others) were all treated to yet another exclusive look at Grand Theft Auto IV.

Here's a delightfully quaint little summary of the new stuff:

• Each site got to play GTA IV for two full hours. Kikizo were the first to do so. Four missions were played.
• The build that the sites got to play is exactly three weeks old as of today.
• Once you die and end up in hospital, you receive a text on your phone offering you to retry the mission.
• Kikizo have compiled a list of all the X360 controls. See them here.
• Only one island (Broker/Dukes) is unlocked to begin with. The other areas are blocked with police blockades. The second area (Bohan) will open up "sooner than it has in previous GTAs."
• You can drop grenades and molotov cocktails out of the car window at high speed. Headlights can be put on full beam or dipped, but cannot be turned off.
• You can pause and select a destination on the full-size map, which is then reflected on the radar. This marks the route out in blue.
• You cannot store items/objects inside vehicles.
• Cars are not customisable, but you can still save them at safe houses.
• There are eighteen radio stations in total. One is called The Vibe, which is RNB and soul. The other genres on offer include funk, reggae, jazz, dance, modern Jamaican, pop, hardcore, hip hop and a specific Eastern European station.
• Dropped weapons and other items have a yellow halo around them, and the mission markers are now yellow arrows floating in the air, pointing at the ground, as opposed to the cylinders we are used to in previous GTAs.
• A hands-on multiplayer preview will (probably) arrive next month.

Aside from the extensive written content, the previews also came with a generous number of new in-game screenshots, many of which fall into the "ass-kickery of epic proportions" category. (We've highlighted some our favourites below.)

See all the new screenshots in our gallery (10)

As always, you can jump into the discussion over on our forums. Don't forget to digg this story; we don't want anyone out of the loop!

Related Links:

• Kikizo Preview
• GamesRadar Preview
• IGN Preview
• Team XBox Preview
• 1UP Preview
• CVG Preview
• GameSpy Preview
• Videogamer.com Preview
• GameTap Preview
• Gamespot Preview

Earlier this month we revealed that a selection of privileged websites were receiving hands-on demonstrations of GTA IV, and that previews were due to be published some time around the 27th of this month. We now have a confirmed date for those previews, and that is Thursday 28th February, which is two days from now. You can expect previews from Kikizo, GameSpot, IGN, and the usual suspects. We don't know the exact time of release yet, but expect it to be around 5PM or 6PM (GMT).

UPDATE: TeamXbox reports that the previews will be released at 6PM GMT / 10AM PST. We are expecting around 10 new screenshots, and you can find them all here at GTA4.NET (in their original, high quality, high resolution format) as soon as the previews go online.

Incase you didn't notice the new screenshot that has been in our gallery since lunchtime, here it is now. It comes from this article over at Gameplanet.co.nz.

R* have updated the official GTA IV website with new information and screenshots. Here is a full list of all of the updates that have been made:

• Videos of Alderney businessman Phil Bell and the Dilettante hybrid car.
• Downloadable posters of Liberty City's most wanted criminals, straight from the LCPD.
• The Weazel News sidebar-friendly news widget.
• New batch of exclusive screenshots.
• Debut of the Character Series of official wallpapers and more.

See all the new screenshots in our gallery (8)

www.rockstargames.com/IV

Earlier this month, we told you that Electronic Gaming Monthly were planning a huge exclusive GTA4 preview for their next issue, but at that time we weren't aware of what it consists of. We have now been informed that EGM were invited to Rockstar North's offices in Edinburgh (where the game is developed) and are the first journalists in years to receive such a privilege. They also have an exclusive interview with Rockstar president Sam Houser - his first (we believe) since the Hot Coffee incident three years ago. He should have some very interesting things to say!

The issue goes on sale in the USA on 11 March. Be sure to pick up a copy.

Microsoft have confirmed that the first part of Xbox 360's exclusive episodic content will arrive this August. From CVG:

"In its GDC keynote extravaganza, Microsoft confirmed that the first downloadable "episode" for GTA IV will be coming this August, exclusively to Xbox 360.

"Grand Theft Auto IV: Episode One, as it's being called, is presumably the first in the previously announced two downloadable episodes for Rockstar's sequel. They've been rumoured to have cost Microsoft a fair few pennies too.

Source: ComputerAndVideoGames.com

Our friends over at GTA-Scene.de have organized a Q&A with the German edition of GamePro Magazine, who recently received a hands-on demonstration of GTA IV in Munich. They are taking questions until February 25, and once the answers arrive, the guys at GTA-Scene.de will kindly translate them for us and send them over.

Link: Q&A with GamePro

OPM goes on sale 12 March in the UK

A couple of weeks ago we informed you that Kikizo/IGN/GameSpot etc. (the usual suspects) in addition to EGM were all due to post exclusive previews based on their hands-on experiences with GTA IV. We can now also confirm that Official PlayStation Magazine (OPM) UK will be featuring an exclusive preview in their next issue, which goes on sale March 12.

In a nutshell, here's what you can expect in terms of previews over the next few weeks:

• Online previews from a small selection of privileged websites (Kikizo, IGN, and GameSpot, to name a few.) These will be published either this week or the next.
• An exclusive preview in US magazine Electronic Gaming Monthly. We should have more details on what the exact contents of this preview are shortly.
• A hands-on preview from Official PlayStation Magazine UK. This issue will go on sale on March 12.

...and we're certain that won't be all. Expect many more previews to follow! Thanks to MattyBlog for the info regarding OPM.

Oh, and here's a nice high-resolution pic of one of the artworks that featured in magazines this month:

View more GTA IV artwork in our gallery.

GoldenJoel from the forums noticed the following new screenshot over at GameSpy:

GTA4.NET Screenshot Gallery

Initially there was some confusion as to whether this is new or not, because the third GTA IV trailer contains a scene which is very similar. However although it looks similar, it's not taken from the third trailer, and it is indeed a new screenshot.

Unfortunately it's pretty small, but we'll try to get our hands on a bigger version soon. Meanwhile, feel free to discuss it at the forums.

Kikizo have informed us they will receive a hands-on preview of GTA 4 tomorrow, at Rockstar's UK headquarters. The coverage, however, won't be going live until around 27th February, but this date may change. The preview is only available to a selection of privileged websites (Kikizo is one of them) and although we don't know the exact number of websites involved yet, we can confirm it will be fewer than before. We will update you with more details as they arrive.

PSM3 Magazine

The latest issue of UK magazine PSM3 features a massive twelve-page exclusive preview of Grand Theft Auto IV. The preview contains four new screenshots which have never been seen before, and new character illustrations of Little Jacob and Vlad. It also contains a fullsize version of this screenshot, which was only partially revealed to us last year. Thanks to Buubar (from the forums) for the info.

There is also a similar preview with similar media assets in the newest issue of Games Master. Both previews appear to be based on the same demonstration. Go to GTAForums for more information. Here is a short summary of the new info from both previews:

• The preview was based on the PlayStation 3 version of the game. This is the first time (as far as we are aware) that the PS3 version has been previewed by the gaming press.
• The faster you tap X, the faster Niko runs. He doesn't appear to get tired.
• Major collisions on motorbikes cause the helmet to fall off. You can see it fall onto the ground.
• Heavy fire will scar - and permanently destroy - parts of the environment.
• They previewed a mission called "To Live and Die in Alderney," which is the second part of "Truck Hustle." The second mission is called "Jamaican Heat," and acts as a tutorial for the new cover/targeting system. The third mission is called "Jacob's Ladder," and the fourth (and final) mission is called "Harbouring a Grudge." This mission introduces an Irish character called Patrick McReary, who is related to Francis.
• The mobile phone can be used to call the police, the paramedics, and the fire department.
• There are 18 radio stations in GTA IV - one of which is Russian. All of these stations can be accessed via the mobile phone.
• You can take photos with the mobile phone and upload them to the police computer.
• Health is represented by a green semi-circle on the left side of the radar, and a right semi-circle represents armour. You can restore health by resting, by using medical kits, and by eating.
• In taxis, you can ask the driver to change the radio station by pressing D-pad left or right.
• The GTA 4 equivalent of the Lincoln Tunnel is known as the Booth Tunnel.

Link: Forum Topic

Who doesn't love a good Grand Theft Auto swag giveaway?

Rockstar has recently launched a new contest (open to US residents only, unfortunately) to go along with the unveiling of the official Grand Theft Auto IV website. Up for grabs is one of fifty (50!) limited-edition Liberty City Swingers t-shirts.

To give you a rough approximation of what the shirts look like, I sucked in my gut and snapped a photo of moi sporting the shirt that came with some of the latest Hidden Package mailers:

For all the official rules and legal mumbo-jumbo, check this page.

Related Links: Liberty Swingers Contest, Official Rules

Rockstar Games have launched the official Grand Theft Auto IV website. The site contains new screenshots, videos, and info on the game, as well as a map of Liberty City. The site takes the form of a tourist guide, and is split into the following sections: People and Places, Recreation and Entertainment, and Goods and Services. Multiplayer and soundtrack info is "coming soon" according to the site.

See all the new screenshots in our gallery (25)

A rather vague map of Liberty City. Hmm... it looks suspiciously similar to the map discovered by Bluespot. ;)

What do you make of the new site? Discuss your thoughts at the forums.

News is coming through that the official Grand Theft Auto IV website will launch tomorrow, with new screenshots, videos, and info on the game. We may even see a map of Liberty City. We will have more information on this very shortly...

This is all we have to source right now: http://www.rockstargames.com/rss/

Edit from Andy: If you're looking at jumping into a discussion about this breaking news, we already have an active discussion started up on our forums.

UPS just brought Hidden Package #2 from Rockstar. No screenshot this time, but it did contain a Liberty Swingers baseball shirt, which one must presume is the name of a baseball team in the game world. Here's a closeup of the logo on the shirt:

Click to embiggen.

Computerbild-Spiele

The latest issue of German magazine Computerbild-Spiele contains a five-page preview of GTA 4, with eleven new gameplay screenshots and a new piece of artwork. It also contains a short interview with Rockstar Games' Jeronimo Barrera. Thanks to Freezer89 for the info! We will try to obtain a translation/summary as soon as possible.

Update from Andy:
New information from the article (thanks, GTAlien for translations and Freezer89 for scans + translations!):

• The preview was hands-on, which means the game was played by the journalists as opposed to a representative from Rockstar.
• The missions that were played appear to be the same ones that were previewed by the online press last month.
• Pedestrian reactions are more true-to-life than in previous games.
• The WASTED! system is still intact. If you die, you end up at the nearest hospital (minus your weapons) the next morning.
• One button press will get you into a car. A second button press is required to start up the car's engine.
• Niko wears a helmet while riding motorcycles.
• Surroundings are more interactive (bullet holes from gunfire, environment reacting to explosions, etc).
• You can find "useful things" in cars that you hijack.

We're staying on top of this as best as we can. We'll keep you posted if any new bits pop up through further translation. Read about more previews on our previews page.

Related Link: GTAForums Topic

We have just received word from Dan Hsu (editor-in-chief of US video game magazine Electronic Gaming Monthly) that next month's issue of the magazine will feature an exclusive preview of Grand Theft Auto IV. We are also told that it contains "another really cool, exclusive thing that can't be mentioned right now." Hmm, perhaps an exclusive interview or something? (don't get your hopes up by the way, it could be anything. We should have more details in a couple of weeks.) The issue comes out in the beginning of March, so be sure to keep an eye out for it.

Yahoo! has just posted the second of two screenshots given to the Associated Press a few days ago. Like the first one, it's a bit small, but hopefully Rockstar will release larger versions soon..

See all GTA IV screenshots in our gallery.

I just received "hidden package #1" via UPS from Rockstar. Inside was a Tw@ Internet Cafe mouse pad, a Liberty City lapel pin, wanted posters, and a new screenshot.

The Videogeddon Arcade in the background is a nice touch. I wonder how long it takes Jack Thompson to issue a press release about it..

As always, you can discuss the new screenshot at our forums. If you aren't already registered, registering is quick, entirely free, and allows you to instantly reply to any topic on the forums. Our community has been running for over six years now, and has over 175,000 members.

The Associated Press were recently given two new screenshots of GTA 4 by Rockstar Games, and one of these screenshots has now appeared on Yahoo.com. Unfortunately this [rather small] version is the only copy we have available at the moment, but we will do our best to try and obtain a full-size version shortly. Thanks to PlanetGTA for the heads up.

See all GTA IV screenshots in our gallery.