Saints Row (2022) - What Happened?
Matt McMuscles
18 min, 18 sec
An in-depth analysis of the development struggles, release, and repercussions of Saints Row 2022.
Summary
- Saints Row 2022 faced a rocky development process due to constant rewrites and direction changes.
- The COVID-19 pandemic further slowed progress, resulting in multiple game delays.
- Upon release, the game was criticized for its bugs, writing, and lack of the series' character charm.
- Volition experienced a high turnover rate, with crunch time exacerbating staff departures.
- Despite modest commercial success, the game did not meet the sales targets, and Volition was closed by the Embracer Group.
Chapter 1
The episode begins by introducing Saints Row's troubled development history.
- Saints Row is known for its vibrant characters and wild gameplay but has faced development struggles.
- The series has explored various settings, including alternate dimensions and cyberspace.
- Volition, the developer, had been wanting to move on from the franchise.
Chapter 2
The early stages of Saints Row 2022's development and the decision to reboot the franchise.
- Development began far before the 2019 announcement, tracing back to late 2017.
- Initially planned as a sequel/reboot, it shifted to a full reboot to allow more creative freedom.
- The reboot aimed to attract new players while revitalizing the franchise for the team.
Chapter 3
The development was hindered by creative struggles and constant changes in direction.
- The team struggled to differentiate the new Saints from the old ones without rehashing old concepts.
- The writing team frequently changed the narrative direction, causing delays.
- Characters and storylines were repeatedly adjusted to make the game more appealing.
Chapter 4
The production of Saints Row 2022 faced significant challenges, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Constant rewrites led to delays, and the pandemic further slowed progress.
- By August 2021, the game was far from complete and had serious stability issues.
- A crunch culture emerged, with QA and other departments working extensive overtime.
Chapter 5
Saints Row 2022's reveal and subsequent reception were met with challenges and marketing missteps.
- The game's reveal was met with negative reactions due to the absence of fan-favorite characters.
- Marketing efforts were criticized, including a bungled reveal stream and non-functional pre-order links.
- Despite these issues, the game still sold well initially upon release.
Chapter 6
Post-launch, Saints Row 2022 struggled with bugs and updates, leading to the closure of Volition.
- Post-launch patches addressed numerous bugs, but the game failed to reverse its negative perceptions.
- The Embracer Group closed down Volition due to financial shortcomings and other business failures.
- Volition's history and legacy in the industry were acknowledged despite its unfortunate closure.