TechSpot - PC Technology News and Analysis

After Rockstar's announcement confirming GTA IV for PC, some speculation has arisen about how the game will function online. Given that the game is being released with a Windows LIVE logo, some are speculating that not only will you be able to play it online with other PC users, but perhaps console players as well.

Cross-platform multiplayer gaming is an interesting idea, and with the advent of modern consoles supporting Internet connections it's clearly possible. There are a lot of obstacles, however. For one, console and PC development are rarely done side by side, and keeping the games patched simultaneously could be a development nightmare. On top of that, more simplistic issues like the controls for a console not matching the PC version could inspire some to say that certain players have advantages over the other. Not to mention that people cheating in PC games online is a big issue, whereas it's rarely heard of in multiplayer consoles.

I don't see it as happening – but I hope it will, since it would tie two large pools of gamers together.