After an extended hiatus, Deep Silver Volition revealed that theSaints Rowfranchise is primed to return early next year at Gamescom. The last release in theSaints Rowseries wasGat Out of Hell, a spin-off starring beloved reoccurring character Johnny Gat as he battled his way out of the afterlife, released in 2015. The last main entry,Saints Row 4, released in 2013 and saw the titular criminal syndicate ascending to the White House while fighting off an alien invasion with super powers and phallic baseball bats.
Now, Deep Silver Volition is getting a new crew together with a reboot that returns to the franchise’s gangland roots. Featuring an amusing “criminal syndicate as business start-up” premise, this new installment of the Saints series maintains a signature blend of bombastic, crime-action and comedy. Butthe GamesCom traileralso represents a clear tonal shift for the series.
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The reboot - simply titledSaints Row -is far from grounded, as the trailer boasts a gravity defying car chase that wouldmakeThe Fast and the Furiousmovies blush. But the series is backing away from the absurdities of aliens, presidential aspirations, superpowers, and demonic legions. A blank slate is sure to open up storytelling opportunities, but shedding the series’ most outlandish features may come at a cost.
What Happened to the Aliens and Tigers?
When the originalSaints Rowfirst launched in 2006, it was couched as a direct competitor to Rockstar’sGrand Theft Autofranchise. The series arguably hit its stride with its third installment, however, when the series started to let its hair down. Though aliens and superpowers wouldn’t arrive until the next game,the recently remasteredSaints Row: The Thirdleaned into ridiculous elements to differentiate itself fromGTA.
Some notable examples include theJackass-esque“Trail Blazing” flaming ATV mini game, and the “Tiger Escort” activity, in which players must cruise around in a car, drifting at appropriate intervals to soothe a tiger that periodically attacks the player. The game also introduced a now-infamous, iconic melee weapon: The Penetrator. The writing, while juvenile, made the absolute most of its bizarre set pieces and eccentric characters.
With a playful “start-up for bad guys” conceit, it’s clear 2022’sSaints Rowhasn’t lost its sense of humor, but players who preferred the zanier elements ofSaints Row’s sandbox worlds may find themselves miffed by the comparatively conventional-if-lawless southwestern setting. After all, there are dozens of games where players can drive around cities doing crimes in cars. Comparatively fewer titles let players do so in a bobblehead helmet while wielding Hulk-like “Apoca-Fist” gauntlets.
Doing Battle with GTA
Between the glowing cat-eared motorcycle helmet and cars that can apparently leap up skyscrapers, the trailer does not make it seem like the newSaints Rowwill be positioned as a next-genGTA-killer. But taking a step away from lunacy in favor a of crime comedy with shades of social commentary is definitely a step towardGTA’s territory. Both games will occupy mechanically and thematically similar spaces, and players will inevitably compare them.
But this match-up might go better forSaints Rowthan one would expect based onGTA’s legendary clout. While Rockstar has steadily injected fresh content intoGrand Theft Auto Online, it must be acknowledged that the game is starting to show its age in certain respects. If nothing else, experienced players have seen the scope of what it has to offer, and many of those players are likely hungry for something fresh.
Alongside the enduring success ofGTA Online,Grand Theft Auto 6is likely an extremely long wayoff. Unlike the late 2000s through the early 2010s, there are far fewer series’ operating in that same space today.Saints Rowcould offer a welcome change-up to those hungry for something new, but that assumes everything goes according to plan. Competing with one of the most critically acclaimed titles of the last decade is not a half-hearted endeavor.
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If Deep Silver Volition is too conservative with its mechanics and story, it will have an extremely difficult time differentiating itself fromGTA 5andGTA Online. Even ifSaints Row’s offerings are excellent, it will be a hard sell to convince invested players to switch games if the two titles feel too similar.
Fresh Faces In Familiar Territory
There is a reason there are fewerGTAclonesthan there were a decade ago: the format became familiar. BetweenTrue Crime,Sleeping Dogs,Saints Row, and a host of lesser-known titles, the market reached saturation. Players knew, or assumed they knew, what to expect, and that may still be true. It is also possible, however, that gamers who grew up on GTA clones might just be hungry for a modern take on the concept.
IfSaints Rowsimilarly wants to grow up, shedding some of its crasser qualities in the process, that’s an admirable endeavor. Butjuvenile charm is still charm, and it must be replaced by something equally compelling. “GTAwith Better Graphics,” or “GTAbut Funny,” won’t cut it becauseGTAis already funny. Next-gen console ports ofGTAare fast approaching, and the game already looks great on PC. WhatSaints Rowneeds to maintain, regardless of what it changes into, is flavor.Grand Theft Autois not drab, conservative, or humorless, but it is an established brand. As a result, it is harder for Rockstar to take the sort of radical and trangressive risks that Deep Silver Volition can take with the newSaints Row.
Fortunately, that distinctive character can be achieved in a number of ways. Hopefully the game will not abandon its penchant for surreal, stunt-like mini-games, and the developers will have anarsenal full of fan-favorite weaponsseasoned with a few oddballs. The weapons don’t need to be as cartoony asThe Third’s Mollusk Launcher, but they do need to feel distinctivelySaints Row. It must be said, the newSaints Rowappears to be brimming with personality, which was ultimately what allowedThe Thirdto step outsideGTA’s shadow. Sometimes, personality is all it takes to make a familiar experience feel fresh again.
Saints Rowis coming to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on July 23, 2025.
