Rumor: 16-Player Online Grand Theft Auto 4 (Updated)

Word out of the gaming grapevine is that Rockstar North's Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3, X360) will feature a full-fledged 16-player online mode when it arrives in early 2008. GamingExcellence claims to have spoken with a Rockstar representative at a recent PlayStation Holiday Preview Event. This rep apparently dropped hints regarding the multiplayer mode, which is said to feature more than just deathmatch, and also indicated the whole of the game world may be open from the title's start. While Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PC, PS2, Xbox) featured a few two player cooperative missions and both Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories and Vice City Stories on PSP showcased six player brawls, Rockstar has yet to integrate online play into any of the 3D Grand Theft Auto titles. However, the homebrew community has enabled online multiplayer into the three latest PC Grand Theft Auto offerings via mods. Shacknews contacted the ever-elusive Rockstar for confirmation and was told that the company does not comment on rumors or speculation.