Grand Theft Auto IV was released in 2008 by Rockstar Games, and its in-game mobile phone let players choose from several ringtones, including Solo. The short melody became familiar through hours of gameplay in Liberty City, where calls from contacts drive much of the story. As clips and soundboards spread online, fans began sharing the ringtone outside the game as a notification sound and a marker of GTA nostalgia. It sits alongside later game sounds like the GTA V notification, which fans use as phone alerts, and it remains popular because it is short, clear, and instantly recognisable to players.