Exciting news is stirring for fans of Saints Row, as the original director, Chris Stockman, has hinted at a potential return for the franchise. Stockman, who was the design director for the very first Saints Row game at Volition and later founded Bit Planet Games, confirmed he’s been asked to develop a pitch for a prequel. He’s actively “attempting to get the band back together,” though he emphasizes that everything remains in the very early stages. As a classic rival to Grand Theft Auto, a comeback alongside GTA 6 would feel incredibly appropriate.
“I’ve been asked to create a pitch for a Saints Row prequel,” Stockman recently posted on the game’s Reddit page. He added, “I can’t say anything more than that but my dreams for this game just became a little more than just dreams.” We reached out to Stockman for more details on his vision for the open-world title, and he reiterated his commitment to a prequel, adding that he’s keeping further plans “close to my chest, for now.”
Stockman initiated contact with the Saints Row IP holder, Embracer Group, following an interview he gave to Esports Insider, which reportedly “created a bit of a fervor.” In that mid-October discussion, he openly challenged the necessity of rebooting the series, emphasizing that it felt disconnected from its essence “without the characters people knew and loved.”
Stockman articulated his vision to us: “I want to bring back the Saints Row franchise to its roots. As you know I directed Saints Row 1 and I feel the series has strayed way too far away from that. I completely understand why they went that way but in the end they kind of painted themselves into a corner they couldn’t get out of.” He suggests that while games like Saints Row The Third were enjoyable, they ultimately pushed the series down a path of relentless, perhaps unsustainable, escalation.
Naturally, it’s still very early days, so temper your expectations. However, Stockman confirmed that “There is interest. A pitch has been requested.” He expressed his excitement, stating, “I am attempting to get the band back together. If this works, this will be an amazing story. I hope it works!”
A dramatic return for Saints Row would undoubtedly serve as a perfect counterpart to the anticipated GTA 6 release. Until then, there are many other excellent crime-themed games to explore.
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