00:00Hey everyone, welcome back to the channel. Today we're diving into some news that is sure to hit
00:04fans of Saints Row hard. Chris Stockman, the original design director of the Saints Row series,
00:10has recently made headlines with a statement that has many fans feeling a little heartbroken.
00:15In a Discord conversation with the fan, Stockman admitted that he believes the Saints Row franchise
00:20is dead. Yes, the very series that brought us over-the-top gang warfare, outrageous missions,
00:26and some of the most chaotic open-world gameplay and gaming history might officially be done.
00:32Now let's set the stage a little. Stockman was not involved in the 2022 Saints Row reboot.
00:38In fact, he left Volition years prior. But back in November, he revealed that he had ideas to bring
00:43the series back to its former glory. He even claimed that Embracer Group, the current IP holder,
00:49had reached out to him to hear more about his thoughts. That had fans excited because Stockman
00:53is one of the people who helped define the tone, style, and gameplay that made Saints Row so unique.
00:59The idea that he might have some influence on a potential revival was a glimmer of hope for the
01:04franchise's future. Fast forward a few months though, and that hope seems to have vanished.
01:10In his most recent comments, Stockman said Embracer has ghosted him, and that the company appears to
01:15have zero ability to do anything with the franchise. He even admitted quite candidly,
01:20honestly, I think the franchise is dead, unfortunately. That's a statement that carries a lot of weight
01:26because Stockman clearly cares about the series, and he's someone who knows it better than most.
01:31To hear him say that the franchise is essentially finished is devastating for anyone who has fond
01:36memories of the earlier games. Adding even more context to this grim picture are the remarks from
01:43Matt Karch, CEO of Saber Interactive. Karch had some extremely critical words about the 2022 reboot
01:49and Volition, the studio behind it. According to Karch, they didn't know what they were building.
01:55They didn't have any real direction. It couldn't last. He went on to question who would even fund
02:00the next game after what he described as that disaster. Ouch. That's not just a critique.
02:05It's a warning that the damage done by the reboot might be permanent in the eyes of publishers and
02:12investors. Personally, I've always been a fan of Saints Row. From the original Saints Row back in 2006
02:18to Saints Row Got Out of Hell. I've had countless hours of fun exploring the cities, completing
02:23ridiculous missions, and just enjoying the absurd humor that made the series stand out. Sure, some of
02:29the later games like Saints Row 4 and Got Out of Hell had their own issues, whether it was balancing
02:34problems, story missteps, or gameplay quirks. But the core of the series, that chaotic charm,
02:41was still there. I never touched the 2022 reboot, and that was a conscious choice. The general consensus
02:47was so overwhelmingly negative that it felt like stepping into a train wreck. Critics and fans
02:53alike called it an insult to the series, and the damage to Saints Row reputation was immediate.
02:59It's generally disappointing because Saints Row had always been a compelling alternative to Grand Theft Auto.
03:04If you love San Andreas-style gang missions, but wanted something a bit more outrageous and comedic,
03:10Saints Row was the perfect choice. It gave players the freedom to wreck havoc, explore unique storylines,
03:16and engage in wild, over-the-top antics that GTA often didn't touch. The reboot, unfortunately,
03:22seems to have undone a lot of that goodwill. Even if a new game were to come out tomorrow that
03:27captured
03:27the original spirit perfectly, I think there will always be a lingering shadow of that 2022 misstep.
03:33People will remember the reboot, and unfortunately, it's not remembered fondly.
03:39That said, I still hold out a little hope. I think the legacy of Saints Row is strong enough that
03:43theoretically, it could rise again if the right team and Vision were behind it. But right now,
03:49based on Stockman's comments and the state of the IP under-embracer, it's hard to be optimistic.
03:54The series has been a part of gaming history for over a decade, and the fact that even one of
03:59its
03:59creators sees it as dead is just heartbreaking. So I want to hear from all of you. Do you think
04:05there's any chance Saints Row could come back in a meaningful way, or is the series really over for
04:10good? Are you like me, where you cherish the earlier games, but feel like the reboot might
04:14have permanently damaged the franchise? Let me know your thoughts down in the comments,
04:18because I love reading your perspectives and theories. And if you enjoyed this video, please
04:23give it a thumbs up, subscribe to the channel, and ring that notification bell so you don't miss any
04:28future uploads. If you want to support the channel further, check out my Patreon. The latest exclusive
04:34is where I take an in-depth look at the rise and fall of the Sega Dreamcast, a fascinating story
04:40that any gaming fan should see. Thanks so much for watching everyone, and as always, game on!
Comments