Following a succession over-the-top adventures that folded in alien invasions and superpowers with Saints Row 4 and its subsequent follow-ups, Volition is bringing its open world crime series back to its roots with the next year’s Saints Row – a reboot that reintroduces a more grounded contemporary fictional setting while still looking to hold onto the humour and possibilities that Saints Row has become beloved for.
Titled simply Saints Row, the new game will be a cross-generational affair that’s coming as soon as next February, and sees a player-created character heading up a gang of four as they go on to establish a criminal empire. Among that group is Eli, a nerdy planner with an MBA, Neenah, who provides the driving talent and Kevin, who, er, has some lovely abs? Then there’s the player character themselves, defined by the player using some of the same deep customisation options seen previously in the series – and the group’s make-up promises to play into the co-op that is also at the heart of this Saints Row reboot.
Providing the playground this time out is Santo Ileso, which draws heavily upon the American south west. It’s broken down into nine distinct districts, including the downbeat Rancho Providencio, Las Vegas analogue El Dorado and the secluded suburban Monte Vista. In the heart of the city there’s an extended emphasis on verticality (and the promise of some tools to make the most of all that, with wingsuits and ziplines that catapult players into the air).
