PS3 hit by "GTA IV" glitch; Take-Two offers elaborate fix

Fri May 2, 2008 11:45AM EDT

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"Grand Theft Auto IV" forums are lit up with angry posts from gamers—especially owners of the 60GB PS3—complaining that their consoles froze within minutes of installing the game. Now GTA publisher Take-Two has a fix for the PS3—a 12-step fix, mind you, that'll require some patience on your part.

GameSpot has the details on the entire process, which I won't reprint here. Here's the gist of it: You'll have to completely delete the GTA IV install files—including any saved games—from your PS3, then turn off your console's Internet connection, disable the Information Board (the ticker on the upper-right side of the main PS3 interface), disable Media Server functionality, delete the Web browser cache, restart, fire up GTA again, tweak several settings (including turning off DualShock 3 vibration support)...and so on. 

Yikes...anyway, check out GameSpot for the complete rundown, and let's hope a downloadable software patch is on the way.

So far, Sony is saying that only "a limited number of PS3s" are suffering from freeze-ups; gamers report that problems begin cropping up after the first GTA IV cutscene or after the initial file installation on the PS3 hard drive. Also, it sounds like most of the freezes are happening on the 60GB PS3 model.

Meanwhile, Xbox 360 owners are suffering from GTA IV glitches as well, although apparently in far fewer numbers than with the PS3 version of the game.

I've been playing both the PS3 (40GB) and Xbox 360 versions for most of the week, and I haven't run into any problems yet. Anyone else out there dealing with GTA IV freeze-ups?

Related:
Take-Two suggests PS3 GTAIV fix [GameSpot]

Comments on PS3 hit by "GTA IV" glitch; Take-Two offers elaborate fix

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  • 26 Posted by vampiremalady on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    XBOX360 - A slight hang or freeze if you will at the very begining, but nothing major yet. I think people need to realize that this is the age of information in the blink of an eye, and wahat may seem like a lot of problems is really in the whole scheme of things minor. Sure 100% no error rate is what we would all like to see, but thats just not humanly possible.

  • 27 Posted by jmdarton on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    Found the most amazing tool on the web...it was in a FrEe BooK! http://www.supertips.com/ultimate/x/?id=963

  • 28 Posted by chic_clan2001 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    I got one of the first ps3's the 20 gb one and I have gta4, mine froze up right after the slide show thats in the start of the game luckily I found a deal on the xbox360 with gta4 so I returned my ps3 gta4 and with a surprise they gave me my money back. Im going to miss the graphics tho they were a bit better on the ps3 but the online is much better on the 360 thats just my 2 cents

  • 29 Posted by tokai2190 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    i have a 60gb ps3 and mine froze while playing darts with michelle.. no other problems though.

  • 30 Posted by connordflynn on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    Maybe if PS3 owners would finally give in and buy a 360 they wouldn't have these problems, I have the 360 version and haven't had one problem.

  • 33 Posted by hobughooper on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    they delay the game for a year and then have this much trouble out of it some one should get fired.

  • 34 Posted by jokerj4201 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    I own 2 60gig models and 1 40 gig model PS3 that I just picked up. After playing GTA4 on all units, I have had no problems with the 40 gig PS3. I did however notice a few freezing problems on the 60 gig model which required me to reset the game. My saved game data was not lost. The freezing so far has happened in two spots. Once when activating a cheat and the other when the game was loading. I also picked the game up for 360 as well. I have yet to be able to load the game with success. I will post when I have info. GREAT GAME!!!

  • 36 Posted by milk99x on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:20PM EDT Report Abuse

    360 Version FREEZE/STALL Total Playtime: Approx 10 hours 3 or 4 Times when driving various cars at different speeds (moderate to fast), the game stalls, and appears frozen, only for about 3 to 5 seconds. It then resumes and skips ahead about half that time (1-2 seconds) causing (almost fatal) crashes. Its not that bad since it has only happened a few times but if it became a daily struggle it would be a pain. Fortunately, for now, it is not a major issue.

  • 37 Posted by r_hernandez12 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have a 60gb PS3 and it was freezing on the loading screen, all you have to do is disable your internet before you start the game then once it loads you can turn it back on. It worked for me but I hope a patch arrives soon.

  • 38 Posted by bravb69420 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    got a 40Gb PS3 n it has frozen 3 or 4 times during the missions, and when i restart the ps3 the loading screen stays on forever, so i have to quit the game and restart. usually after i quit the game and start it back up it works fine, but sometimes i have to do that a 2nd time....it fails to load after every time it has frozen....its obv. the game cuz my ps has done it once on 1 other game (NHL 08)in the 6 months that ive had it

  • 39 Posted by kev39kram on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    WHEN is GTA4 goin to come out for PC? please!!! i need to know im goin crazy in front of my computer getiing destroyed on cod4!

  • 40 Posted by michaelg_020 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    i have the 60 gig ps3 and unfortunetly i have had it freeze on me. they better fix this ----- with a patch cause i don't want to be dealing with this the entire time i play the darn game. not to mention starting over!

  • 41 Posted by lil_jared_m on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:52PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have a PS3 60 gig and i have had problems with glitching and another glitch was that my file kept loading and would never load so i had to delete the whole thing but they need to get a downloadable fix for it soon

  • 42 Posted by waxler9311 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:41PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have a PS3 60 gig and I haven't had any type of problems with it since I have bought it. I always hear of people having problems and ----- but not once have I had any type of problem with mine.

  • 43 Posted by lbahi15 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    i have the 60GB PS3 and it did freeze after the first cut-scene...but i just restarted it and its been perfect since

  • 44 Posted by jwaters327 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    ps3 60 gig my save file wouldn't load after i unlocked second island had to reinstall now back on track

  • 45 Posted by miglo902004 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    HEY, How about YOU ALL STOP CRYING!!!! IS there a fix for tHAT!!!! Thats what you geeks get for wasting your MONEY!!!

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