Embracer Remains Quiet After Saints Row Design Director Says He Believes the Series Is 'Dead'

Saints Row 1 plan manager Chris Stockman has said helium believes the bid is present “dead” and that proprietor Embracer has “zero ability” to bash thing with the franchise.

The one-time Grand Theft Auto rival hasn’t seen a caller introduction since 2022’s ill-fated reboot, Saints Row. It received a mixed reception from fans, with IGN’s Saints Row reappraisal returning a 6/10. “Saints Row delivers nary shortage of shallow sprout 'em up thrills, but it's a precise acquainted and uninspired marque of sandbox fun,” we said astatine the time. Sales were depressed, and developer Volition unopen down successful 2023. We haven’t heard astir Saints Row from Embracer since.

So, is Saints Row dead? Stockman, speaking successful the Discord for his studio, Bit Planet Games, said helium thinks it is, having pitched a revival to Embracer (via subsidiary Plaion) and heard thing back.

Stockman, who near Volition during pre-production of Saints Row 2, said past month: “... honestly, I deliberation the franchise is dead, unfortunately. I get the consciousness that Embracer has zero quality to bash thing with it.”

He continued: “I privation things were different. I tried my champion to connection a way guardant but they've ghosted me.”

IGN asked Embracer for a connection connected Stockman’s comments and for a presumption update connected Saints Row, but a spokesperson said the institution does not remark connected “rumors and speculation.”

More recently, Stockman clarified he’d spoken to Plaion astir Saints Row, and helium asked astir the anticipation of selling the IP, “but arsenic I mentioned earlier they garbage to respond to my messages and emails.”

“Companies of that size astir ne'er merchantability their IP due to the fact that it, ultimately, devalues their acquisition terms if they determine to merchantability oregon effort to instrumentality connected investment,” Stockman said.

The upshot of each this is Saints Row celebrates its 20th day this twelvemonth (the archetypal crippled came retired connected August 29, 2006) and it feels similar a caller crippled successful the bid is further distant than ever. But 1 happening seems clear: if the institution does person a concealed program for a caller Saints Row, Stockman isn’t involved.

“As agelong arsenic they [Embracer] are successful concern they ain it,” Stockman added. “If they went retired of concern oregon filed for bankruptcy it would get auctioned disconnected to the highest bidder.

“They could licence it to maine oregon declaration america to negociate it. But I've done each I tin bash to effort and marque that happen.”

Upcoming Embracer games see Killing Floor 3, Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, the Embracer-owned Crystal Dynamics' caller Tomb Raider games, and Darksiders 4. The destiny of the Lord of the Rings MMO, developed by Amazon Games successful collaboration with Embracer-owned Middle-earth Enterprises, is unclear. Dead Island 3 is successful the works astatine Dambuster Studios, and is owed retired successful the archetypal fractional of 2028.

Wesley is Director, News astatine IGN. Find him connected Twitter astatine @wyp100. You tin scope Wesley astatine [email protected] oregon confidentially astatine [email protected].