Chris Stockman, design director of the original Saints Row by Volition, plans a concept pitch for a new entry in the series which he referred to as less of Saints Row 7 and more of a precursor – returning to the roots of the brand. This information comes directly from the industry veteran himself who mentioned being approached recently to prepare the proposal. This development is certainly significant in view of the closure of Volition, the studio behind the series, with regard to the uncertain future of the popular albeit recently troubled intellectual property (IP) itself in 2023.
Stockman, who left Volition almost immediately after the release of the first game, has now co-founded a studio called Bit Planet Games, which is focused on virtual reality. However, the former director of Volition soon put community online fears to rest by stating that if his pitch is approved, the new Saints Row would adopt a traditional, non-VR route through the conventional platforms. He referred to this opportunity as a dream come true while maintaining he has a very clear vision of the prequel, suggesting a return to the grittier tone which defined the former two installments before the story moved into over-the-top comedy.
Ultimate fate of the concept falls upon Plaion, the current owner of the IP, formerly known as Koch Media. Plaion is itself a member in the larger Embracer Group, which is going through complicated overhauls currently and is supposed to finish this massive restructuring by the end of the year 2025. The division into which Plaion falls shall be rebranded as Fellowship Entertainment, thus complicating any immediate commissioning of any major new project. While there is much excitement about Stockman’s involvement, the landscape of the corporation demands measuredtiming.
Considering the fact that the average development cycle today for medium to large budget titles is usually five years, even should the prequel get green lighted immediately, it would most probably delay the release of the game into the early 2030s. This may seem to suggest a long wait but the possible involvement of the director who shaped the initial identity of this series reveals a strong desire to continue in honor of its legacy and perhaps recalibrate it after the mixed reception of the 2022 reboot.
