Saints Row Design Director Believes Franchise Is Dead

Chris Stockman, who served as design director on the original Saints Row (2006), has spoken out on Discord about the bleak future of the franchise. According to Stockman, IP owner Embracer Group has completely ignored his pitch for a prequel.

A Promising Pitch Left on Read

Last November, Stockman posted on the Saints Row subreddit that he had been asked to create a pitch for a Saints Row reboot, calling it a dream becoming a little more than just dreams. But the follow-up was grim.

"I think the franchise is dead, unfortunately," Stockman wrote on Discord. "I get the sense that Embracer has zero ability to do anything with it. I tried my best to offer a path forward but they've ghosted me."

His Vision: A 1970s Prequel

Stockman had envisioned a period-piece prequel set in the 1970s, following a crew of teenagers who grow up to become the main characters of the original Saints Row. The concept would have leaned heavily into 70s aesthetics — big Afros, bell-bottoms, and the era's iconic music.

He was openly critical of the 2022 reboot, which received mixed reviews (61-65 on Metacritic) and led to the closure of original developer Volition. "There's a level of expectations for a Saints Row game, and they missed the mark on all of them," Stockman said.

Embracer's Silence and the Franchise's Uncertain Future

Embracer Group acquired Volition along with the Saints Row IP, but the studio was shut down after the reboot's poor performance. With Embracer seemingly uninterested in reviving the franchise and Stockman's pitch going unanswered, the future of Saints Row looks increasingly dim. The original series had a dedicated fanbase who appreciated its gritty-but-comedic approach to open-world action — a niche that appears to have been abandoned entirely.

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Saints Row Design Director Says Franchise Is 'Dead' After Embracer Ghosted His Prequel Pitch