GTA 4 Episodes from Liberty City: Lost and Damned & Gay Tony Guide
Everything about GTA 4’s Episodes from Liberty City: both stories, their new weapons and activities, release dates, how to play them today and which one to play first.
GTA 4 Episodes from Liberty City bundles two expansions: The Lost and Damned (biker Johnny Klebitz, 2009) and The Ballad of Gay Tony (Luis Lopez, 2009). The disc came out on Xbox 360 on October 29, 2009 and on PS3 and PC in April 2010. Today both are included in GTA IV: The Complete Edition on PC.
In this guide
- What is Episodes from Liberty City?
- The Lost and Damned
- The Ballad of Gay Tony
- Which episode is better?
- How to play Episodes from Liberty City today
- Cheats in the episodes
- How the stories connect to GTA 4
- Main characters in the episodes
- Exclusive radio stations
- Tips for playing the episodes
- How long are the episodes?
- Episodes from Liberty City FAQ in brief
- Who should play Episodes from Liberty City?
- Is Episodes from Liberty City worth playing in 2026?
GTA 4 Episodes from Liberty City is a pair of expansions that tell two new stories in the same city and at the same time as Niko Bellic’s adventure. You’ll see familiar events from new angles — and the second episode, in particular, is often called one of the most fun things Rockstar has ever made. Here is everything you need to know.
- Episodes
- The Lost and Damned · The Ballad of Gay Tony
- Lost and Damned (Xbox 360)
- February 17, 2009
- Ballad of Gay Tony (Xbox 360)
- October 29, 2009
- Disc release (PS3 & PC)
- April 13, 2010 (North America)
- Needs GTA 4?
- No for the disc; yes for the old downloads
- On PC today
- GTA IV: The Complete Edition
What is Episodes from Liberty City?
Rockstar released two downloadable episodes for GTA 4 on Xbox 360 in 2009, then combined them on one disc called Episodes from Liberty City. The disc version is standalone — you don’t need the original GTA 4 disc to play it. Both stories take place in the same Liberty City as GTA 4, and they cross paths with Niko’s story at key moments, such as the famous diamond deal.
The Lost and Damned
You play as Johnny Klebitz, vice president of The Lost MC biker gang in Alderney. The story is darker and grittier than Niko’s, focused on loyalty, brotherhood and a gang falling apart after its reckless president, Billy Grey, returns from rehab.
What’s new in The Lost and Damned
- 🏍️ Biker gameplay: ride in formation with your gang to restore health and armor.
- 🔫 New weapons: pool cue, automatic 9mm, assault shotgun, sawed-off shotgun and pipe bombs.
- 🏁 Bike races where you can knock rivals off with melee attacks.
- ⚔️ Gang wars around the city, plus arm wrestling and air hockey at the clubhouse.
The Ballad of Gay Tony
You play as Luis Fernando Lopez, the bodyguard and business partner of nightclub owner Anthony “Gay Tony” Prince. Where The Lost and Damned is gloomy, this episode is bright, over-the-top and full of action: skyscraper parachute jumps, helicopter chases and luxury cars.
What’s new in The Ballad of Gay Tony
- 🪂 Parachutes and base jumps from buildings and helicopters.
- 🔫 New weapons: .44 pistol, explosive shotgun, assault SMG, gold SMG, advanced MG, advanced sniper rifle and sticky bombs.
- 🥊 Cage fighting and drug wars side activities.
- 🍸 Club management: work security and keep the VIPs happy in Tony’s nightclubs.
- 🎯 Mission ratings — each mission scores you on bonus goals, so you can replay for a better grade.
Which episode is better?
| The Lost and Damned | The Ballad of Gay Tony | |
|---|---|---|
| Main character | Johnny Klebitz (biker) | Luis Lopez (bodyguard) |
| Tone | Dark, serious | Fun, flashy |
| Best for | Story and bikes | Action and spectacle |
| Stand-out feature | Riding in formation | Parachute jumps |
If you liked GTA 4’s serious story, start with The Lost and Damned. If you want pure fun, go straight to The Ballad of Gay Tony. Playing them in release order — Lost and Damned first — helps you notice how the three stories connect.
How to play Episodes from Liberty City today
- 💻 PC: in March 2020 the standalone PC version was replaced by Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition, which includes GTA 4 and both episodes in one game. Pick the episode from the main menu.
- 🎮 Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S: the Xbox 360 version runs through backward compatibility.
- 🎮 PS3: the original disc still works on PS3 consoles.
Cheats in the episodes
All the normal GTA 4 phone cheats work in both episodes, and each episode adds its own: Lost and Damned has bike and van spawns, while Ballad of Gay Tony adds the APC tank, the Buzzard helicopter, a parachute and explosive punches. See the full lists in our GTA 4 cheats guide.
How the stories connect to GTA 4
All three stories revolve around the same stolen diamonds. Niko, Johnny and Luis each see the diamond deal at the museum and the chaos that follows from their own side. Watching familiar scenes from a different character’s point of view is the best part of playing all three. If you haven’t finished GTA 4 yet, read our spoiler-marked Deal or Revenge guide first.
Main characters in the episodes
The Lost and Damned
- Johnny Klebitz — the level-headed vice president of The Lost MC.
- Billy Grey — the reckless club president whose return starts the trouble.
- Jim Fitzgerald — Johnny’s loyal friend in the club.
- Brian Jeremy — a member who turns against Billy’s leadership.
The Ballad of Gay Tony
- Luis Lopez — bodyguard, business partner and the episode’s hero.
- Tony Prince — a nightclub legend in deep financial trouble.
- Yusuf Amir — a wildly rich property developer who gives Luis some of the game’s most outrageous missions.
- Brucie Kibbutz — the fitness-obsessed car dealer from GTA 4, returning with even more energy.
Exclusive radio stations
The episodes added three new radio stations: Vice City FM (classic 1980s hits), Self-Actualization FM (relaxing talk radio) and RamJam FM (reggae and dancehall). Note that some licensed songs were removed from the PC version over the years.
Tips for playing the episodes
- 🏍️ Lost and Damned: stay in formation with your gang on rides — it slowly repairs your bike and restores health.
- 🎯 Ballad of Gay Tony: aim for the mission bonus goals for a better percentage rating.
- 🪂 Parachute: in Gay Tony, you can grab a parachute from many rooftops — and with the cheat 359-555-7272.
- 📞 Cheats: each episode has its own vehicles; see our GTA 4 cheats page.
How long are the episodes?
Each episode is much shorter than GTA 4 — around 10 to 15 hours of story each for most players, plus side activities. That makes them a great “one more trip to Liberty City” after finishing Niko’s story.
Episodes from Liberty City FAQ in brief
Do saves carry over? No — each episode has its own saves and progress. Are the episodes canon? Yes; they happen at the same time as Niko’s story and share key events. Can you play them first? You can, but you’ll understand the shared scenes better if you finish GTA 4 first.
Who should play Episodes from Liberty City?
If you loved GTA 4’s city and story, these episodes are a must. Fans of motorbikes and darker crime stories will enjoy The Lost and Damned, while anyone who prefers big action set-pieces, nightlife and humor will feel right at home in The Ballad of Gay Tony. Both are also good choices for players who find GTA 4’s main story too long — each episode tells a complete story in a fraction of the time.
Is Episodes from Liberty City worth playing in 2026?
Yes. Both episodes are shorter than the main game — a good weekend each — and they show off Liberty City in new ways. The Ballad of Gay Tony in particular feels like a bridge between GTA 4’s realism and the over-the-top fun of GTA 5’s heists. If you own the Complete Edition on PC, they’re already in your library.