New details about the 2022 Saints Row reboot have surfaced online, suggesting that the game was originally intended to be a sequel to Saints Row: The Third.
For those unaware, a Saints Row reboot was released in 2022, developed by Volition and published by Deep Silver. The game featured a brand-new story and characters, featuring a crime-based adventure in Santo Ileso. However, fans of the series were not happy with this direction, with many expressing disappointment over the shift in tone and the narrative’s lack of substance.
What the 2022 Saints Row Reboot Could Have Been
The details about the Saints Row reboot originally being a sequel come from mrsaintsgodzilla21’s video on YouTube (via Synth Potato on X). In this video, the creator discusses their 2019 visit to Volition’s development studio, highlighting every detail, story point, or other aspect that was cut or changed during the transition from a sequel to a reboot. The game was to be called ‘Saints Row Cinco” and would arrive as a direct sequel to Saints Row: The Third.
To make the Saints Row sequel a possibility, they would have to retcon all events from Saints Row 4 and even negate Johnny Gat’s death in the third installment. So, instead of an alien invasion, the Saints, along with The Boss, would have to exit Steelport and establish a new base in Santo Ileso. The sequel would have also featured all the Original Saint Members as the main characters in the sequel.
Moreover, the developers intended to make this a fan service game, checking off all the things they had requested over the years. The Saints Row sequel would follow a 20/80 rule for its tone, where 20% of it would be inspired by Saints Row 3 and 80% by Saints Row 2. There was also a secret mission in the game, where players would have the chance to confront and kill Dex. The Saints Row sequel was so far in development that Pierce’s actor had recorded some of the lines for it, too.
When Things Started to Change
Things reportedly changed as soon as THQ Nordic acquired Deep Silver, with the former outright rejecting the sequel idea and forcing Volition to go back to the drawing board. For the new story, heavy restrictions were placed on what the characters would be able to say, including swear words. Then, a new version of the reboot was pitched, which would have retained all the original Saints; however, that was rejected by THQ Nordic as well.
Other Features That Could Have Been a Part of the Saints Row Sequel
Other cancelled and rejected features for the Saints Row sequel were also revealed. Ultor was going to return instead of the Marshals, with the Skill Tree being split into wealth, fame, and muscle branches. Body shields were also going to return, but Deep Silver rejected them for being “too violent.” Criminal Ventures would have allowed players to customize the entire city, choosing what businesses to place in the open world.
They also had a ‘proclamation’ system, which allowed players to instill laws in districts under their control. These laws would vary from setting dress codes to enacting standoffs as a method of resolving conflicts. The game was also bringing back Cribs and customisation, where players could customise cribs and the church and place items where they wished. You could also purchase furniture from the store, but these features were cut.
Moreover, cheats would have been unlocked during the endgame, requiring players to find and unlock a massive secret genki pyramid to make them available. Also, New Game+ was cut. There are a lot more details in mrsaintsgodzilla21’s video, which you can find embedded below. Readers should note that as these details do not come from an official source, they should treat it with caution.
In other news, a claim stated that Grand Theft Auto and Saints Row were “at risk” of being delisted in the adult games debate. Also, Saints Row reboot sold 1.7 million copies before Volition’s closure. What are your thoughts on Saints Row five being a sequel and the features that were cut from the game? Let us know through the official Insider Gaming forums discussion.
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