This past week brought intriguing revelations about the initial vision for 2022’s controversial reboot of the Saints Row franchise. As reported by reliable series insider mrsaintsgodzilla21, the original storyline prominently involved returning fan favorite characters like Johnny Gat, Dex, Aisha, Pierce and Shaundi in lead roles. Furthermore, the early plans aimed to strike an 80/20 tonal balance between the urban crime drama of Saints Row 2 and over-the-top action of Saints Row: The Third. The proposed blend suggested a back-to-basics approach, aligning with longstanding fan preferences to see more grounded chaos from the veteran crew.
One especially interesting narrative beat involved the fate of Dex, a recurring secondary character whose ultimate end sparked continued speculation after his betrayal in Saints Row 2. A mission directed by renowned community developer, IdolNinja, would have let players properly confront and finish off Dex onscreen.
Regrettably, publisher Deep Silver eventually demanded shifts in creative direction during development, moving away from established icons that defined the series’ identity since 2006. This change in focus to emphasize new student-turned-criminal protagonists alienated the core fanbase upon release.
The Saints Row reboot was initially seen as an opportunity to recapture the magic of the earlier installments. After the release of Saints Row: The Third, there was a growing sense within the community that the games had started taking a turn for the worse. Things went completely bonkers by the time that Saints Row: Gat out of Hell was released, a game that saw the titular character, Johnny Gat, basically go into Hell and rescue the player character, The Boss, from the devil himself.
Although the unique promise of Gat out of Hell received praise, it was clear that Deep Silver had started running out of ideas on where to take the franchise next. Hence, the reboot.
Unfortunately, the reboot was only Saints Row in name. Perhaps exacerbated by studio turbulence over at Volition, the 2022 title suffered from deeper gameplay and technical issues. It also certainly didn’t help that it introduced completely new faces, all but forgetting the likes of Johnny Gat.
In an ideal world, the Saints Row reboot could’ve seen the former criminal underlords try to regain their former glory. If done right, this premise could’ve delivered a captivating redemption arc that long-term fans would love. Instead, the blank slate approach failed to resonate with press or players, saddling Volition with its first high-profile disappointment.
Evidently, Saints Row’s drastic makeover aligned more with assumed mass market appeal than attempting to honor the franchise foundations. But the bland finished product only weakened wider mainstream interest beyond alienating loyal supporters. This misguided gambit ultimately necessitated Embracer Group shuttering Volition despite over 20 years of esteemed history.
Key decisions during Saints Row’s rocky reboot may have sealed its fate early by dismissing the community groundwork that preceded it. Now with the core creators gone, uncertainty clouds the once-beloved IP sitting idle after its last gasp severely missed the mark – a bittersweet coda for those who still reminisce about yesteryear’s Third Street mayhem with increasing longing.
With Saints Row officially dead, a Grand Theft Auto alternative no longer exists. The good news is the next Grand Theft Auto game is just on the horizon. Rockstar Games is preparing to reveal Grand Theft Auto VI in early December.
