Hold the Phone: Original Saints Row Wizard Pitches a Revival, And Embracer's Actually Taking the Call!
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Original Saints Row design director Chris Stockman, critical of the 2022 reboot, has successfully piqued Embracer Group's interest and is now preparing a pitch to revive the franchise, potentially taking it back to its 70s roots with a prequel. This surprising turn of events could offer a fresh, authentic direction for the much-loved series.
Well, butter my digital biscuits, mate, it looks like a blast from the past is trying to conjure up a new future for Saints Row! Chris Stockman, the design wizard who helped lay the chaotic foundations for the *original* Saints Row, has apparently convinced Embracer Group to lend an ear – and potentially a budget – to his vision for a series revival. This comes after the frankly… well, *unloved* 2022 reboot.
Stockman, who dipped out of Volition (the studio that, sadly, was later shuttered by Embracer in 2023 amidst a swathe of layoffs) way back in 2007, reckons he still knows what makes a Saints Row game tick. And according to his chat with Esports Insider, the recent reboot didn't even come close. He called it a "terrible idea," wondering "What is it trying to be?" – a question many of us yelled at our screens, I reckon. He rightly pointed out that "It wasn't Saints Row at all. Just call it something else at that point."
Now, here’s where it gets proper wild. Stockman essentially threw down the gauntlet in that same interview, daring Embracer (the current owners of the Saints Row IP) to "contact me. Let's go." He claimed he could "turn that IP around" and even bring "much of the old band back together." And blow me down, they actually did! After his initial interview "created a bit of a fervour" – which sounds like a magical energy surge, doesn't it? – Stockman revealed on the Saints Row subreddit that he’d been asked to "create a pitch for a Saints Row reboot!" Fair dinkum!
What's his grand plan, you ask? He's keeping his cards close to his chest for now, but he’s keen to "bring the Saints Row franchise back to its roots." He’s not envisioning it as a VR game (despite his current studio's focus), and for those wondering if the infamous, *ahem*, 'marital aid' weapon will make a glorious return? Stockman's firmly putting that particular genie back in the bottle. "I would've never put that abomination of a weapon in," he declared. So, less purple pleasure, more period piece, perhaps?
Indeed, his earlier thoughts hint at a groovy 70s prequel. Imagine running around with a crew of teens who eventually become the OGs, all set to a backdrop of big afros, bell-bottoms, and funky beats. It's a cunning move, too, sidestepping the perpetual GTA comparison by going back in time. Smart fella!
It's a curious turn of events, especially given the grim reality of Volition's closure last year amidst Embracer's wider layoffs. Perhaps they're finally realising that sometimes, you need to go back to the source code to fix a glitch. So, can an OG wizard truly reboot a beloved, if slightly bonkers, franchise? Is this the start of a beautiful, chaotic revival, or just another pixelated pipe dream? Only time, and a very compelling pitch, will tell. But fair play to the bloke for having a crack!
*Massive thanks to Matt Wales at Eurogamer for first spilling the digital beans on this one, originally published on Nov. 3, 2025.*
Tags: SaintsRow, GamingNews, GameDevelopment, EmbracerGroup, FranchiseRevival
Original article: Eurogamer