He probably thinks he's a real cowboy...

If you remember that a new Saints Row game came out in the summer of last year, then you might be pleased to?? hear that the open-world adventure's first DLC expansion will finally arrive next week, nine months on from the game's initial release on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platforms.

The Heist and The Hazardous �which hits all platforms on May 9 �will see our uber-trendy gangsters on a mission of vengeance, tracking down the double-crossing Hollywood star Chris Hardy following a botched assignment. The expansion will feature new in-game events, story missions, and a wardrobe full of new clothing, weapons, and other related chicanery. The Heist and The Hazardous is the first of three paid DLC expansions planned for t??he title in 2023.

//twitter.com/SaintsRow/stat??us/165339903?7180010500?s=20

Saints Row, which launched last August after being delayed from its initial spring release date, saw the tongue-in-cheek crime franchi??se rebooted with an oddly elite fashion aesthetic and a cast of younger, entrepreneurial stars. While the game itself was serviceable, with high-octane action and an appetite for destruction, many critics and fans were non-plussed at the reboot's general vibe, complaining about a dated mission design, obnoxious and offputting dialogue, as well as a slew of technical issues.

Developer Volition has been releasing updates to correct the latter problems, which has led to this long delay between launch and DLC drops. Soon after relea??se, it was announced that Volition was being transferred from Deep Silver to another Embracer Group publisher, Gearbox Entertainment.

Saints Row ?is av?ailable now on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox. But not Stadia. Not anymore.

The post ??Saints Row DLC, The H??eist and The Hazardous, finally arrives next week appeared first on Destructoid.

Longer the wait, the more it hurts

Welcome back! It’s another Tuesday, which means tonight there will be a new episode of Spot Dodge: A Live Nintendo Podcast exclusively on Destructoid. Topics: It's been quite the year of disappointing video games. From CrossfireX to Babylon's Fall, in tonight's opening topic we discuss the worst games of the year. The crew also discusses the recent Pokemon Scarlet and Violet leaks and Square Enix's major NFT blunder. All of that and so much more on Spot Dodge!

//w?ww.youtube.com/watch?v=0WgbNB6SYnA&ab_channel=SpotDodge

Video game development cycles are getting longer. The days of receiving three Uncharted games in the span of five years are over. So when a highly anticipated game ends up being aggressively mediocre, it hurts, even more, knowing you won't see the studio's next effort until five to ten years later. The most recent example that comes to mind is Gotham Knights.

WB Montreal's last game was Arkham Origins. A severely underrated Batman game I adore. So of course, I was extremely eager to play Gotham Knights. Unfortuna??tely, it was not worth the ten-year wait. Let's talk about it!

Our lovely cast from around the ?web: Brett Medlock (me) and Mary Stowe from Destructoid, John Friscia from The Escapist, Greg Bargas from PC Invasion, and Brett Larsen, our extra special guest. Behind the scenes, Gamurs�Eric Weichha??rt is live-editing this week’s show.

Spot Dodge is a weekly Nintendo Podcast here at Dest?ructoid where we dedicate an hour or two to go over the latest Nintendo news and discuss the games we’re playing. If you’re a fan of Nintendo Switch, RPGs, or having a good time, Spot Dodge will be a great addition to your podcast rotation.

Spot Dodge is streaming live every Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. PT / 7:00 p.m. ET on Twitch channel. PSA: We now have a dedicated Spot Dodge YouTube channel! All future episodes will be live-streamed and uploaded there. ??What do you think are the worst games of the year? Don’t be afraid to join the chat and be part of the show!

Afterward, the show will be available on-demand for audio listeners via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. The live video version will remain on both YouTube and Twitch (don’t forget? to follow and subscr??ibe). So many options!

The post Long-awaited mediocre games hurt even more now appeared first on Destructoid.

More story content is also on the way for Saints Row

The team at Volition is laying out the future of updates for Saints Row.?? As the reboot passes a significant milestone, the developer is also talking about its plans for fine-tuning the game post-launch.

In a new blog, Volition and publisher Deep Silver confirm the 2022 Saints Row has seen 1 million players boot it up. That's a lot of players, but Saints Row has also been dealing with a number of bugs, too.

The studio says it is prioritizing delivering improvements over new features. Part of that is the major update planned for late November, the first one Saints Row is receiving since its launch in August.

The update will see 'over 200' bug fixes and stability u?pgrades. There will be a focus on challenges, overall stability.

"We’re especially aware of issues some players have been having with co-op and we’re sorry these fixes have taken l?onger than expected while we apply and test them thoroughly," said Volition in the update.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgjzDJA1o1E

What's in store the reboot

Quality-of-??life improvements are also in store for the autumn update. A few specified changes include reducing repetition in some activities, improving management of vehicles, and making challenges more rewarding.

Though newer content is "less of a priority" for the Saints Row team now, the crew is still planning for the future. Volition and Deep Silver say they plan to support Saints Row for the long-term.

Saints Row is due to receive all-new story content in 2023, included in the Expansion Pass or purchasable as a separate piece. Free ne gameplay experiences and city areas are also in development. Cosmetic DLC is also expected to arrive this week for all Saints Row owners, with more on the way thi?s year. Expansion? Pass owners will get a few additional cosmetic packs, too.

The post Saints Row November update will have ‘over 200’ bug fixes and stability upgrades appeared first on Destructoid.

Another lease on life

Volition was kind of between a rock and a hard place with Saints Row by the time Gat out of Hell came out. At that point, they had gone so far down the well of absurdity that it was impossible to?? climb back out. So when they revealed they were rebooting the series seven years later, it made perfect sense.

The decision to marry both new and old-school Saints Row concepts is a little bolder. That strategy isn't going to appeal to everyone??, but there's plenty of wackiness to find in the open world.

Saints Row (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X [reviewed])
Developer: Volition
Publisher: Deep Silver
Released: August 23, 2022
MSRP: $59.99

Although it has a mostly comedic tone (and maintains the series' signature over-the-top nature mostly by means of gameplay), the new Saints Row does attempt to ground the story foundationally. In what I would call a mix of Saints Row 2 and 3, there's a push and pull with dramatic cutscenes that ingratiate the audience to the team of heroes through hardship �and scenes where you drive a property manager around in a car in a silly fashion (and hit ??sick jumps) until he coughs up a deed. It runs the risk of al?ienating portions of both audiences, but for me, it mostly worked because of the way said silliness is worked into the core of the game.

The meat of Saints Row involves the rags-to-riches story of the "boss" (that's you), and how the titular gang was star?ted. Working as a henchman for a private military contractor, you quickly attempt to rise in the ranks and meet an abrupt end at the company. From there a mini-mystery is concocted for?? the boss, but the focus mostly zips into you and your gang's personal struggle and humble origins.

Compared to your fully customizable boss with multiple voice options, the core crew is static each run, and can often sink into the background. There are clear roles for each of them, and they'll mostly work within the confines of that archetype. Like a situational comedy, you're going ??to like some characters more than others, but "background noise" is how I'd classify some of them at worst.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvClpQdaX1Q

That classic Saints Row absurdity is present nearly everywhere, including bits of the campaign (though I wish those portions were presented in a less "on-rails" fashion). Fighti?ng droves of enemies by yourself does still feel fun, as do the [returning] ragdoll bonus games that involve insurance fraud. It's still possible to shoot a rocket launcher at a car and watch it ??fly 100 feet into the air, or use a piece of construction equipment to destroy buildings. And most of this can be accomplished simply by roaming around and enjoying the open world.

As a shooter, Saints Row plays it safe, and it pays off. O??n Xbox Series X aiming felt smooth, and the tried-and-true weapon wheel mechanic hasn't failed me yet. You won't really think about the cracks during open-world combat (which is a plus), but some of the mission layouts, coupled with the lack of weapon variety, can lead to some low??-impact shootouts. There's still a good amount of "endless goons spawn through door" scenes, alongside the classic "multi-level-shootout" arenas.

Extra unlockable abilities (like smoke bombs) and more weapons lead down the path of customizable builds and options. Through challenge completion �which is usually attainable stuff like "[?X] near misses" while driving �you'll earn more perks, or buy more perk slots with cash. Money can be earned over time through missions or the in-game Cash App, which provides a flow of income based on progression. It's a cascade of upgrading, but it comes swiftly and easily.

The open world is where I spent most of my time with Saints Row, because Volition clearly put a lot of work into it. Even seemingly random locations can have backstories by way of the in-game lore tidbits, and every major zone (which includes shades of rural, town, and city areas) has something unique to offer. The way the open world naturally progresses is nice, too. Instead of being bombarded with icons, you'll discover some through doing activities on the map. It eases you into collecting pins ??on a map without forcing you into it. I wasn't able to test out co-op, but the idea of it involving drop-in and drop-out play makes returning to these open-world sprees more enticing.

The free-roaming portion of Saints Row is where it'll speak to a lot of its audience. At one point when going from mission to mission, I noticed a vehicle signature ability unlock pop up on screen. From there I started finishing out challenges, earning abilities (powers of sorts that each vehicle has), and customizing my current garage of available rides. A few hours had passed, and I was basically just driving around testing out new cars and motorcycles. The driving mechanics won't gel with everyone, especially with a small early stable of vehicles, but like most things Saints Row, they get the job done. I didn't have much trouble finessing through ?traffic like I was Nic Cage on an Xbox Series X controller, and sensi??tivity options are available.

While doing that, I found some points of interest, all with their own lore. Then I started becoming more invested in seeing them again, and picked up on how to get around without using a map. Where it really hit me was in the history segments. When finishing up an early mission, I noticed a bit of history conveyed through a poster on a wall about how the region was founded. It's a tertiary sort of story, where you can completely pass it by, or ignore it. But a few hours later I stumbled upon an old fort, and was introduced to the history submissions. Similar to the Assassin's Creed discovery tours (but less strictly educational), they're key activities that ask players to investigate historical monuments t?hrough plaques or information boards. Those, just like the more arcadey side stories, reward XP and cash.

An open world that lets you waste time in it for fun feels like a lost art, especially in a post-GTAV world mostly barren of games like GTA. I didn't really know how I felt about Saints Row until I hit the open-world segment, and this current team showed me what it is capable of. The campaign likely isn't going to strike a chord with a lot of people, but the muck-about nature of the world map kept me playing longer than I expected. A sequel that leads into its biggest strengths has a lot o?f potential.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Saints Row (2022) appeared first on Destructoid.

The overview video goes over quite a bit

If you were curious about checking out the new entry, this Saints Row trailer (which hit YouTube this week) should give you a pretty good i??dea of what to expect??.

Taking place in Santo Ileso (which is an amalgamation of the American Southwest), you'll join up with your in-game buddies (Neenah [get-away driver], Eli [behind-the-scenes assistant], and Kevin [on-the-field partner]) as well as your out-of-game-buddies (with co-op) to reform the Saints in this new reboot universe. Amid commentary from in-universe characters, this six-minute Saints Row trailer walks you through the core concept??s: creating your criminal empire, and exploring Santo Ileso. Even if you aren't interested in the story at all, the trailer does a pretty good job of showcasing general mechanics, like the customization options, side mission activities, and modes of locomotion (including gliding).

It'll be really interesting to see the audience reaction here. Based on my prior hands-on I really dig the world map, but the general vibe and tone are going to hit differently depending on what kind of Saints Row fan you are. After all, the series has kind of been all over the place on that front, and it's really hard to top the pri??or "aliens/superpowers/hell" combo. Rebooting and resetting made perfect sense.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3QcEQ2G2AA

The post This new Saints Row 2022 tra??iler shows you everything you need to know appeared first on Destructoid.

It's to establish a new identity, and also a bit easier to say

Koch Media, a games publisher under the grand umbrella of the Embracer Group, is changing up its name. The publisher formerly known as Koch is now Plaion, as the 28-year-o??ld company is rebranding.

Under the moniker of Koch Media, the company operated publishing labels like Deep Silver and Prime Matter. It's part of various games and brands, ranging from Homefront and Metro to Saints Row and Dead Island. The company was purchased by Embracer Group (THQ Nordic at the time) in 2018. Now, it will operate under a new name.

In a press release, Plaion says this new name will better represent the c??ompany's history and the groups it works with.

"Our new name offers us the opportunity to build on our rich history as a publishing partner and our outstanding, constantly growing network of world-class developmen?t studios and creative people, to keep delivering premium service to our partners, to highlight our ambition as a global player within the entertainment industry but also to reinvent ourselves," said Plaion managing director Klemens Kundratitz. "Our vision is to enable and inspire our worldwide teams and partners, unlocking their full potential."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgjzDJA1o1E

What's in a name?

Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz about the name change, Kundratitz also expresses hope that the name change will make more of an interna??????????????????????????tional impact.

"Our name for so many years was associated with physical distribution, perhaps with us be??ing more of a central European company–although including the UK because that was among the first three countries where we launched," Kundratitz told GIbiz. "But we're perhaps not seen as a global company. And it's sometimes difficult for some people to pronounce."

For the record, Plaio?n is easy to pronounce. It's just play-on. The company's new logo is also stylized around the comm?on triangle used for Play.

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Yes, it has a wingsuit

When the new 2022 Saints Row game was announced, I was legitimately surprised. A full reboot feels like the best direction to take a series that once brought us to hell and tangoed with aliens and superheroes, and we recently had the chance to put this to the test with a Saints Row hands-on session.

So what's the verdict? Well after playing the first few story missions and four full hours of the open world (via a later save file), I can safely say that it feels like a comfortable mix of the seriousness of Saints Row 2, and the silliness of Saints Row 3.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgjzDJA1o1E

Our story begins with the "boss," our plucky protagonist (who is fully developed with a highly customizable character creator) who joins up with the PMC Marshall Defense Indus??tries [MDI]. It's here that the tutorial picks up and you start to see the aforementio??ned silliness in action. While the monetary plight of the boss is at the forefront, the MDI commercial also showcases how the organization is "serving the community" by saving an old lady from getting hit by a car by...blowing up said car with weaponry right on the street. It's a tone-setter!

Speaking of the character creator, it's also another neon sign of how weird Saints Row can get. I had the chance to flip through the boss creator social channel in-game, which included a dev creation of Shrek, fully decked out in Shrek garb (which you can click on as a loadout if you have the in-game cash to buy said outfit). Another writer next to me was making Thanos, complete with purple skin. So far, so good.

Whatever you end up deciding on looks-wise, the tutorial has the boss try and track ??down a notorious and elusive villain, disobeying orders in the process (which sets up a chain of events that leads to said boss creating their own empire with their own crew of preset story characters). Said tutorial also teaches you the basics of running and gunning, as well as the responsive dodge button and jumping mechanics. Immediately I noticed the snappiness of aiming and locomotion, a tightness that will come in handy after spending 30+ hours in this world. It also has a weapon wheel and a takedown system, as well as abilities like smoke bombs and proximity mines, on top of a leveling system and passives.

It's functional and fast, which is how you want an open-world game centered around action and gunplay to be. There's a familiar "retro" air to it too (as in, a GTA 3 retro, feel old yet?), with the proper amount of snap to the controls. On normal mode I acclimated very quickly to the game's various tricks, and found myself able?? to mow down droves of enemies, even at a higher "heat level" aft??er causing a ruckus. With adjustable difficulty, having that higher ceiling and air of accomplishment is a good thing on paper; if it keeps that feeling going through the finish line.

Like the tone of the story, it's all a careful balance. There's just enough RPG elements to get that dopamine flowing when you level up in Saints Row, but not an overwhelming amount to the point where progression feels pointless. And it's easy to progress, too, because there are a lot of little things to do beyond the main story. It's still fun to stop and take a picture of a "Keep Santo Ileso Weird" mural (taking pictures of key/set locations also can unlock fast travel), or go dumpster diving (which is the Saints Row equivalent of a hidden package) after seeing an icon light up on the in-game radar. Th??e?? map of Santo Ileso is massive, but it isn't overwhelming to the point where it feels like an empty canvas full of soulless pins.

I had the chance to speak to Danielle Benthien, an associate artist at Volition, on how the team achieved this goal, and how the reboot is more of a mix of southwest Americana than it is based on one particular region: "Making the [map] bigger is always important, but more color, more vivaciousness, making things alive...we have the technology to do that now. Our team traveled to places like Las Vegas, to places here in the southwest, to see what it's really like out here, and all those things we brought back to make Santo Ileso what it was. We wanted to make it bigger than Stilwater, bigger than Steelport. You have Mercado, which is very much like the Las Vegas strip, and you go out to the desert and it looks like the dry areas of Arizona, and then you go to the lush area with flora and fauna, and then there's the factory district that's very much the Breaking Bad [New Mexico] style."

Saints Row is also bringing back the cell phone interface, and it thankfully serves as an easy way to get in and out of several in-game functions (like mission selection). Benthien recalls the "tried and true" system was used in past entries, calling it a "no brainer" in terms of its return. But with the proliferation of cell phones being used more and more in the modern era, it makes even more sense in 2022 than it did in prior entries. As far as the identity of the game goes, I brought up the polarized reception reboots and sequels can often have from a tonal perspective. Take Diablo 3 for instance: so many people loathed that it completely changed the aesthetic and vibe of D2, but a lot of people embraced the newness. Saints Row has been so many different things, and I don't envy the position Voliti?on is in whe??n it comes to bringing it back.

Benthien responded in stride, noting: "So the decision to reboot the series wasn't an easy decision to make, but it felt right. We felt like the original Saints had their stories told to completion, and there wasn't much we could add to their story. So we had to strike a balance between people loving the seriousness, and while [Saints Row: The Third] was the more mainstream more popular one people were familiar with, we wanted to be sure we were respectful o?f both titles. So it's a little more grounded...but with those bombastic elements."

As far as an "elevator pitch" in terms of what the Saints Row reboot offers that past games don't have, Benthien says that the story is the aspect she feels the most strongly about: "it has a modern energy. So the Saints Row games are old at this point, and writing and gameplay can feel dated. It has the modern action system that never feels too slow, and this has some really ser?ious elements and serious moments that really ground the characters...and show the whole sp?ectrum of emotions of people trying to make it in this crazy world."

In terms of the technical aspects of Saints Row 2022, we played a PC build with a controller, and I h??ad very few complaints. There are heaps of accessibility options, the game ran very smoothly, and load times were super short, as we've come to expect this generation. The chance to change your appearance at any time and five difficulty options were also a nice ?touch. One of the only issues I ran into had to deal with animations, especially when it came to takedowns, but it was minor. The main thing is that the actual takedown would follow through, and everything would actually happen, but the character models wouldn't always line up exactly. This is the sort of thing that could be shored up quickly as we head into launch.

Set to debut in August, the Saints Row reboot doesn't feel like it's stuck in time at all �but rather, it's coming at the perfect time. Right now the landscape of open-world games has shifted a bit, and old-school "GTA" style titles aren't nearly as prevalent as they once were. In fact, the whole GTA situation has cooled down a bit, and a lot of folks are done with GTA Online. Plus, it's been seven years since the last proper mainline Saints Row project, and nearly a decade if you? don't count expansions. Timing is on Volition's side, it just needs to deliver. As of now, it seems like it's going to manage that.

_{[Disclaimer: Travel was provided by the publisher to this event in Las Vegas.]}

The post Hands-on: The Saint??s?? Row reboot is a clever mix of Saints Row 2 and 3 appeared first on Destructoid.

Be the boss of your dreams, or nightmares

The new Saints Row isn't out until August, but you can perfect your look a little early. Deep Silver and Volition have launched a Saints Row character creator dubbed the "Boss Factory," and it's ou??t now for free on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox?? One, and Xbox Series X.

The Boss Factory will let you craft all kinds of looks for your avatar, the Boss, and I really mean all kinds. Today's trailer showed eve?rything from giant body-builder types to wild costumes, and even a Nosferatu-looking Boss. Finally, I can live ou?t my crime-vampire dreams.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHHgTmdjyl0

Big Boss energy

Saints Row has always been known for its more out-there vibes. But it's also nice to see some options that really open up character creation, whether that's making someone that feels more representative of you in the world, or just becoming the nocturnal ghoul you've always hoped to be. The creator advertises thousands of options, from teeth and make-up to muscles, tattoos, and skin tints. Heck, even the veins are customizable in the Saints Row Boss Factory. It's ??a slider I never even thought to consider.

This character creator will let you get everything set, so your perfect Boss is ready by Aug. 23 when Saints Row launches on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. And in the meantime, you can live out your wildest Nightmare Factory dreams. Find the Saints Row Boss Factory at Epic here, the PlayStation Store here, and the Xbox store here.

The post Sain?ts Row Boss Factory lets you craft your ow?n Boss starting today appeared first on Destructoid.

Dressed for Excess

Once you get past the dildo bats, space rockets, and tiger Cadillacs, one thing that the Saints Row franchise is renown for is its wild wardrobe of ker-azy customization. While Volition's 2022 Saints Row reboot will be tethering its action a litt??le closer to reality, it is no less in love with funky fashion.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVhu1iz4AvM

Publisher Deep Silver hosted a full 23-minute showcase of the new title's dress-up mode, which will allow the player to style out "The Boss" in whatever clothing they see fit. While the hip young cast of the next entry look, frankly, obnoxious as all fuck, we will at least be able to break the smothering Hot Topic ae??sthetic by kitting out our own hero with the worst, most clownish fashions this side of 1992.

The Boss can be fine-tuned from the ground up, with full?? customization opportunities for body type, skin tone, hair, facial details, muscular cuttage, and even their voice. Make The Boss as perfectly toned as Bruce Lee, or as chubby as yer boy Moyse. You can give them a nose as cute as Emma Stone's, or as bulbous as... yer boy Moyse... Fucking 'ell. Anyway, once you have created your perfect person, then you can go all out on clothing, footwear, hats, masks, makeup, jewelry, accessories, and much, much more.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tzVN-p9bQw

But it's not only about the shoes you wear. Saints Row will also feature deep customization of the player's vehicles and weapons, offering a massive range of decals, colors, patterns, and special effects. From baseball bats to rocket launchers, mopeds to muscle cars, each and every item can be meticulously designed with near-endless precision to not only feature your gang's particular "brand," but even to perform to your liking, from turning circles ?and horsepower, to explosive effects and ammo types.

And, as your crew continues to conquer the American Midwest, even your cathedral-based hideout will re?ceive a full makeover, with renovations, decorations, statues, slick lighting, and all manner of exterior bling designed to make it known to your rivals, your city, and the entire world that The Saints are, most definitely, back in business.

Saints Row launches August 23 on PlaySt?atio??n, PC, and Xbox platforms.

The post Saints Row reboot shows off ?i?ts trademark customization mode appeared first on Destructoid.

Cue '80s 'getting ready' montage

The upcoming Saints Row reboot might star a posse of Hot Topic-supporting wankers, but that doesn't mean we can't all have a little fun dressing them all up in some suitably silly Saints Row style.

Despite the incoming reboot's questionable Fashionista direction, Volition's return to Saints Row will see the franchise's penchant for customization back and ready to rock. In fact, publisher Deep Silver has announced that it will be holding a live stream presentation on April 20 specifically focused on the new title's Customization Suite, which will allow for an array of crazy, sexy, cool clothing and outrageous accessories. The stream will be viewable via Saints Row's official Twitch and YouTube channels.

//??twitter.com/SaintsRow/status/1514605160151937038?s=20&t=eO57E1GMZ7UjpaAuyPbGzA

"Within the showcase itself, longtime fans and newcomers alike will be delighted to see a brand new trailer fully focused on customization across all aspects of player choice in the game, that will get gamers excited about all the incredible ways you can Be Your Own Boss in Saints Row," remarked Deep Silver. "It will truly show off?? the breadth and depth of the customization features Volition have packed into the title."

In addition to the Customization Suite, the stream, (hosted by Saints Row actor Mica Burton), will also include a brand new trailer, developer interviews, and fresh new footage. Saints Row, originally scheduled to launch in the spring of 2022, was pushed back to the summer, perhaps wisely dodging the incendiary launch period that brought us Elden Ring, Horizon Forbidden West, Sifu, The King of Fighters XV, and more.

Saints Row wi?ll launch August 23 on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platforms.

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Needs to be 250% more Hot Topic

Well, it appears that at least one title will not be joining us for February 2022's nightmarish review week. Publisher Deep Silver and developer Volition have announced that the upcoming reboot of crime sim series Saints Row will no longer meet its originally scheduled February release date, and will instead be running amok come Aug?ust 2022.

"Our priority is to create the best Saints Row game yet and, if we released on the original date, it wouldn’t be up to the standards we’ve set ourselves, and that you’re expecting and deserve," said Volition CCO Jim B?oone in an official statement. "The team just need? more time to do our vision justice; we’re doing some fine tuning and there won’t be much change in the game outside of overall quality and polish.

"In all honesty, we underestimated the impact COVID would have on our schedule, although everyone adapted very quickly to the working from home arrangement and continued to be incredibly productive. However, due to the size and scope of our new Saints Row, it’s become apparent that to create the best game possible, we need to give our team longer to perfect their craft [...] Rest assured, there will not be any chang??es to the story or the characters or anything that we’ve lovingly imagined over the last few years and already shared with you."

Frankly, the delay can only help the developer, as well as the title itself. February 2022 is already chock-a-block with major, highly anticipated releases, including Elden Ring, Horizon Forbidden West, and Dying Light 2. No disrespect intended, but I can easily see Saints Row's open-world crime sim dynamic drowning among those hefty releases. These extra six months will give the reboot some breathing room, lighten the load for the team, a??nd offer an opportunity fo??r polish, allowing the painfully trendy kids of the Saints to slide in with style under the hot summer sun. As it should be.

Saints Row will now launch August 23 on PlayStation, Xb??ox??, and PC (via Epic Games Store)

The post Saints Row delayed to summer 2022 appeared first on Destructoid.

None of these were available at my local Job Fair

Deep Silver, in association with developer Volition, has released an explosive new trailer highlighting criminal ventures its upcoming reboot of open-world crime sim Saints Row, which is currently in development for PlayStation, ??Xbox, and PC platforms.

The Saints Row Criminal Ventures trailer offers a sneak peek at some of the shady enterprises our gang of cookie-cutter Hot Topic trendsetters can embark upon in order to build up capital for their fledgling crime empire. Mastery of these side schemes will help our protagonists to get their feet on the rungs of Santa Ileso's dangerous underworld �while also giving players the opportunity to take some time out from all the running 'n' gunning of Saints Row's central story campaign.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcQjAkxY2xg

Criminal Ventures sees the player purchase, build, and invest in a series of businesses, each of which is a front for a specific crime arm of The Saints. The Bright Futures Industry rewards the gang for the illegal dumping of toxic waste, while the Let's Pretend toy story is a base for The Saints to plan and carry out high-stakes bank heists. Already familiar to Saints Row fans will be the Shady Oaks Medical Center, which activates the amusing and very silly "Insurance" scams, tasking players with throwin?g themselves into oncoming traffic, with top dollar paid for major highway pile-ups.

It all looks fun... kinda. Nothing about the Saints Row reboot has me excited. The open-world crime sim scene has gotten exceptionally dry, and even this video only really features slightly tweaked takes on side-quests we have already seen played out ad nauseum in franchises such as Grand Theft Auto and Saints Row itself. I have no doubt the game will be a smash success �it certainly doesn't need my dollar �but I can't help but feel that the "Run around a contemporary city and blow shit up" genre has become really played out. I'm u??nsure as to how evolution?ary the ninth gen can make it.

Saints Row is in development for PlayStation??, PC, and Xbox platforms. It is scheduled to launch February 25.

The post Saints Row shows off the gang’s explosive ‘criminal ventures’ appeared first on Destructoid.

Expect some bugs

To play off of yesterday's reveal of Saints Row (2022), a reboot with a fresh cast in a fictional new Southwestern US city, Deep Silver is giving out Saints Row: The Third Remastered for free on the Epic Games Store. The remaster joins this week's other, already-confirmed freebie: the factory-building puzzle game Automachef.

If you want 'em, both games are claimable until September 2, 2021.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j5FAX8nEy8

Even if it falls short of Saints Row 2, or at least my memory of Saints Row 2 being earnest and interesting to explore and take in, I liked th??e third game?? fine at the time �it's ridiculous, in good and bad ways, and it's action-packed if that's what you're after.

That said, Saints Row: The Third is one of those games I don't feel like I need or ??want to return to, you know? If you're in the mood for zany open-world criminal antics, this remaster is packed with content, and the textures and lighting are noticeably upgraded.

Preferences aside, a quick look at the Steam user reception to Saints Row: The Third Remastered doesn't inspire much confidence. Some of it is general saltiness, but there are technical issues (audio problems, performance woes, an inconsistent frame rate), to the point where some?? folks prefer the original version. Never a good sign for a remaster.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a7YPbx2i2g

As for Automachef, it's as enjoyable as it looks �if, in fact, this premise looks enjoyable to you. It's a game about building a food-producing factory one laser-focused machine at a time, as efficiently as possible, and while a lot of these supply-chain games can feel intimidating to break into, this one really is??n'??t too bad. If I can scrape by, you can too!

Next week's free release, Yoku's Island Express, runs from September 2�. Do not sleep on this game. Sorry, that sounded lik?e a threat. Kindly, do not skip this warmhearted metroidvania game with super fun pinball platforming me??chanics.

It's got a heart of gold, I tell ya.

The post Saints Row: The Third? Remastered is free o??n the Epic Games Store alongside Automachef appeared first on Destructoid.

A whole boatload of games

The virtual Gamescom is underway, as today Geoff Keighley hosted its Opening Night Live showcase for 2021. It was a pretty packed show th??at had its own half-hour pre-show, featuring a slate of upcoming games.

There was a lot to see and unpack. This isn't an exhaustive list of everything that was announced today, but a rundown of some o?f the big topics, surprising reveals, and wacky moments that filled over two hours of showcase.

The big news was a lot of release dates and windows for some major games. Halo Infinite's campaign and multiplayer was confirmed to be launching on Dec. 8, following a store leak and report saying as much. Horizon Forbidden West has been officially pushed back to February 18, 2022. And Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga locked in a spring 2022 window, alongside a charming trailer that took us??? through the nine films.

As for new, never-before-seen games? The long-rumored Marvel-meets-tactics game from Firaxis premiered as Marvel's Midnight Suns. It's coming in March 2022, stars a custom commander of your own de?sign, and most importantly, has a k?ickass Ghost Rider.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgjzDJA1o1E

The new Saints Row also showed off both a cinematic trailer and some gameplay. It seems like a tonal reset for the series, taking things down from Saints Row IV to more in the area of Saints Row 2. You can check out some early impressions of it, alongside some extra details, in our preview here.

A new Outlast game, dubbed Outlast Trials, also showed off some gameplay in a new trailer and seemed like a pretty scary time. Something a little less terrifying to ease your mind: some Jungle Book skins are coming to Fall Guys! I did not see this coming whatsoever, but I'm kind of a fan of the big ol' Baloo suit. And if you've been playing Splitgate, the Halo-meets-Portal mash-up FPS, a new season launched today with a new map, battle pass, and game mode.

A few other games locked in release dates too, including martial arts action-brawler Sifu, set for Feb. 22, 2022, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge also got set for 2022 alongside a gameplay reveal of April O'Neil.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-uxtyHnMEY

As for the near-future, dragon-riding game Century: Age of Ashes announced a Nov. 18 launch, Riders Republic is hosting an open beta, Call of Duty: Vanguard showed off some single-player gameplay, and Cult of the Lamb looks like an adorable barnyard hellscape. Looking forward to that one in 2022.

Plus, it's a great time for cameos, as Aloy's Genshin Impact debut was showcased, and Morgana from Persona 5 will be rolling into Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania. And all of that isn't even counting the pre-show, where King of Fighters XV was locked for a Feb. 17, 2022 release date and Dream Cycle, the new game from the creator of Tomb Raider, was revealed.

It was a long day of Gamescom Opening Night Live announcements, but hopefully that catches you u??p to speed on whatever you might have missed. Let us know in the comments if you've got a favorite.

The post Here’s some highlights from today’s Gamescom Opening Night Live 2021 appeared first on Destructoid.

A fresh start for the off-the-rails series

The recent tease for a new Saints Row game from Volition honed in on it being a reboot, and it's true. The next game, simply titled Saints Row, is taking a step back from the off-the-rails power fantasies of Saints Row IV and Gat Out of Hell with a more gr?ounded �but still larger-than-life �take on open-world gang hijinks. That's probably for the best.

Even if you don't consider Saints Row 2 to be the series' high point, or at least the one you clicked with the best, I think most of us will agree that the Saints Row IV storyline was becoming bonkers in an unsusta??inable way. I like every game for different reasons, and there's fun to be had with superhero-esque abilities, but diminishing returns creep in.

As studio development director Jim Boone put it during a recent Saints Row hands-off preview event, there "isn't a whole lot of runway" to go past the madness of taking over the White House, feuding with aliens?, and facing off against Satan. How do you top that?

Volition's answer has been to return to the "criminal roots" of the series with a new crew of characters, led by a new player-made Boss avatar, in a new setting: Santo Ileso.

Apart from the Gamescom reveal trailer, Volition showed off some pre-recorded gameplay. While it was a brief preview, gut reaction, I'd say this was much closer to Saints Row 2 or 3 than anything on IV's level. That's immediately where my mind went.

It's another criminal-empire-building playground, this time with a more "contemporary" crew by your side: Kevin, an eternally shirtless DJ; Eli, an entrepreneur; and Neenah, a mechanic with an art degree. They'll break their ties with the city's current powerhouses to f??orm their own gang, the Saints, and establish a foothold across nine districts "inspired by the weird, wild American Southwest," as creative director Brian Traficante puts it.

Three established factions stand in the way �Los Panteros, The Idols, and Marshall �and as you whittle them down, you'll build out "criminal ventures" in vacant lots, which are essentially fronts that open up new bits of gameplay. You could have fast-food drug running, arms dealing, a protection racket, or a toxic waste dump in the financial district. That last idea seems extra on-brand for the Saints. And before you ask, Boone joked that "I don't think we can ship a Saints Row game without insurance fraud." In this case,? in the 2022 game, y?ou'd just need to build a sketchy medical clinic to open up that side activity.

A few other notes: Volition didn't go in-depth with the character progression system, other than to say it's XP-based, with skills and perks to unlock. I'm curious about the driving, too �it sounds like it's been overhauled in terms of handling and combat. Any vehicle can be upgraded to go off-road-ready in the desert, and the developers also tease??d a side hustle based on wingsuiting and "some licensed [music] tracks."

As far as returning characters and nods, there will be some Easter eggs �and the team will "always leave a certain percentage of weapons aside to be the crazy ones" �but "by and large," expect to see new faces in Santo Ileso. Combat will be run-and-gun, not cover-centric, and they've sp??ent "a lot of time" ??????????????????????????on weapon precision and the way guns feel.

It's worth stressing that one of the best parts of Saints Row, co-op, is back �it'll be drop-in, drop-out, and it's "?untethered." Volition also teased some kind of "pranking."

It's too early to make bold predictions about the story, and again, we haven't gone hands-on yet. That said, I like the setup so far �more so the snippet of gameplay than the CG trailer with the emoji helmet, which seems so overdone in 2021. It feels like the right time for another Saints Row (while GTA Online ch?ugs on), and I'm hopeful Volition can thread the needle here for fans of the older games and those who prefer the bonkers latter entries.

Launch is set for February 25, 2022, across PC (Epic Games St??ore), PlayStation 4,? PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

The post Saints Row ret??urns in February 2022 with a new crew in the American Southwest appeared first on Destructoid.

The writing's on the wall �literally!

Right before gamescom 2021, Deep Silver and Volition have begun teasing something new for the Saints Row series, which has been quietly percolating since 2015's Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell. Is it getti??ng to be that time for a new game? It sure ??seems so!

Alongside the usual social-media blitz, including a tweet from Geoff Keighley promoting gamescom's news-filled Opening Night Live stream on August 25, the official Saints Row website was updated with a new image, as s??hown at the top of this article.?? It's a tagged brick wall with graffiti that says "Rebooting" next to the Saints' familiar fleur-de-lis.

On its own, that's enough to get people thinking about p?ossible directions for the series, but Volition and Deep Silver also filled in some gaps in replies t?o fans' tweets.

The developer has been "quite busy with a whole new game," and it's "not a remaster or remake," so that really starts to whittle down what this soon-to-be-revealed game could be. Separately, the team noted that a remaster of Saints Row 2 is "not in our plans."

Given how increasingly not-grounded Saints Row's world of over-the-top gangsters became with each new game, to the point where quite literally anything seemed to be on the table, you have to wonder what's next. Whatever it is, I'm down for more Saints.

Where do you fall on the Saints Row 2 / Saints Row IV spectrum? How much is too much?

The post Saints Row dropped off a ‘rebooting’ teaser right before gamescom, and it’s ‘not a remaster or remake’ appeared first on Destructoid.

Dead Island 2 remains lost at sea

Koch Media is already getting set for E3 2021, and will be taking a moment out?? of the jam-packed weeken??d in order to make some big announcements. These announcements, however, will not involve subsidiary Deep Silver, nor any of the latter publisher's upcoming releases.

As confirmed by the publisher on Twitter, titles such as the Saints Row sequel, the recently announced TimeSplitters entry, the next Metro, or even the long, long, loooong in development Dead Island 2 will not be putting in an appearance at any point during either E3 or the Summer Game Fest. It appears that? Deep Silver's catalogue will be taking a backseat during this summer's important media blitz. Deep Silver ends the tweet by telling fans that it will be sure to inform them when it has new news to share on the aforementione??d releases.

Instead, Koch Media will be dedicating its airtime to revealing what it has been referring to on social media as "THE big announcement". Koch will play its hand on June 11, when it sits down with Summer Game Fest host Geoff Keighley for the mysterious revelation. If you want to check out the news live, then visit the weknowsomethingyoudontknow website at 12:00 PT / 15:00 ET / 20:00 BST. We will also ke?ep yo??u informed right here on Destructoid, naturally.

As for Deep Silver, while it is a shame we won't be seeing any of the above titles, it is also a much different media world now, with new streams seemingly taking place every few weeks. When the time is right, there will be plenty of time throughout 2021 for Deep Silver to show off its litany of upcoming releases... except for Dead Island 2, of course, which isn't ever coming out in my lifetim?e or yours.

//twitte?r.com/deepsilver/status/1400814786884116483?s=20

The post Deep Silver: De??ad Island 2, TimeSplitters, and Saints Row will not be at E3 appeared first on Destructoid.

Enhanced visuals and dynamic 4K at 60FPS on May 25

Shortly after the Steam and GOG release of Saints Row: The Third Remastered on May 22, Deep Silver will be rolling out the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of the remaster. I know, I know — this (surely) isn'??t your favorite entry. But what if I told you the new console editions are a free upgrade?

Saints Row: The Third Remastered will be available directly on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S starting May 25, and it's a free upgrade from PS4 and Xbox One. Always nice to see. Apart from new lighting and texture work compared to the original game, there's a performance boost — expect to hit dynamic 4K at 60FPS, and in the case of Series S, your choice of either 1080p at 6??0FPS or 4K at 30FPS.

The develop??ers are calling this "?equivalent to the PC edition at high settings."

On the PlayStation 5 front, there's Activities support. That might sound minor if you haven't used the PS5 cards before, but they're great time-savers when they're implemented with care. Also, the DualSense controller will glow purple while you play The Third Remastered because of course it will.

I liked the game well enough in 2011 (which is to say "less than Saints Row 2"), and I don't know if I'll ever go back. I'm ?l?ooking forward to the future and whatever bonkers direction this series takes, though.

The post Saints Row: The Third Remastered has a free PS5 a??nd Xbox Series X/S upgrade lined up appeared first on Destructoid.

The Boss is Back

Epic Games Store's one-year exclusivity deal is just about up, and Deep Silver's outrageous crime sim sequel Saints Row The Third: Remastered is getting set to bring its explicit carnage to the Steam platform. According to a quiet reveal on the official Twitter account, the rem??aster will launch on Steam May 22, joining its PS4, Xbox One, and Stad??ia siblings.

An updated edition of Volition's 2011 sequel, Saints Row The Third: Remastered sees the brutal open-world franchise take a turn for the absolute bizarre, retaining the gritty urban violence of its predecessors, while simultaneously snorting?? a helluva lot of insanity. Hyperactive game shows, giant plastic heads, tigers i??n Cadillacs, luchador gangbangers, squid-firing laser guns, and the notorious "Penetrator" baseball bat redefined the Saints Row franchise, kicking off a spiral of insanity that would only get crazier.

Saints Row The Third: Remastered features the original game in its "Full Package" form, complete with all DLC expansions and extra content. Under the hood, Remastered also boasts improved textures, lighting, and visual effects, HDR implementation, improved loading times, and a slicker frame rate. Far from just a mere upscale, this release is a significant upgrade over the original. A full decade after release, Saints Row The Third: Remastered  still worth checking out for a few hours of wanton, madcap, brain-burst??ing carnage.

The post Saints Row The Third:?? Remastered brings ball-shots and dildo bats to Steam this month appeared first on Destructoid.

Cblogs Recap: Week 22

-Spinnerweb discusses games that undercut their own playability with a focus on Dead Space 3.

-Shoggoth2588 responds to this month's Band of Bloggers prompt about underwhelming sequels with this blog on Grand Theft Auto IV.

-Lord Spencer reviews Alundra as part of his PlayS?tation 1 REVIEWS blogging series.

-Black Red Gaming continues the ranking of the Saints Row series with a blog on Saints Row: Gat out of Hell.

-Sam ven der Meer is not impressed by DOOM 3.

-Osc continues journaling his progress in his ho?bby ??game.

-PhilsPhindings discusses the similarities between the Xenogears soundtrack and the music of Davy Spillane.

-PhilsPhindings discusses the similarities between the Lufia 2 soundtrack and the music of Benjamin Britten.

-TheBlondeBass details how he made the best out of ??this terrible 2020 summer (keep your seatbelts on, the year isn't over).

-ChronoLynxx continues the weekly tradition ?of a??n open discussion forum, check it out.

Thanks to Lord Spencer for the Cblog Recap and to our community for another week of neat content and opinions! If you want to be part of next week's recap, then take some time to visit our Community Blogs and share your gaming thoughts with us.

The post Cblogs of 8/22 to 8/28/2020: Dea??d Space 3, Alundra, and the 2020 hellscape appeared first on Destructoid.

Cblogs Recap: Week 34

-Black Red Gaming does a mini-review of several games, including The Evil Within and My Friend Pedro.

-Queen of Philosophy shares her first impression of the Marvel's Avengers beta test.

-Falloutdogmeat wonders if Sly Cooper should be remastered.

-Caius RV reviews Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.

-RiffRaff does a number of mini-reviews for several games, including Ghost of Tsushima and Paper Mario: The Origami King.

-Black Red Gaming ranks the Saints Row series with this blog focusing on Saints Row 4.

-Jeremy Comans shares ?his collection of favorite video game music.

-PhilsPhindings discusses the similarities between the soundtrack of Chrono Trigger and some popular music.

-PhilsPhindings discusses the similarities between the soundtrack of Sonic the Hedgehog and some popular music.

-ChronoLynxx opens up another TGIF c??omm??unity forum to discuss gaming related things.

Thanks as always to Lord Spencer for the Cblog Recap and to all of our community members for another week of interesting content and trivia! If you want to be included in next week's recap, then visit our Community Blogs and share your thoughts on all things gaming

The post Cblogs of 8/15 to 8/21/2020: Sekiro, S??ly Cooper, and vide?o game music appeared first on Destructoid.

The streets is where I's born

Mayhem will soon be reignited. Saints Row: The Third -- the Saints Row that took the series from beloved GTA ;kno??ckoff to absurdist comedic anarchy -- is being remastered for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

Deep Silver's return to Steelport is (like all remasters) predicated on making everything look new and shiny. Developer Sperasoft is in charge of remastering Saints Row: The Third, and that work includes: implementing a new lighting engine, remodeling and redesignin??g all the weapons and vehicles, and creating more than 4,000 new current-gen assets.

Sperasoft is a name that might not ring any bells, but it's a studio that has been around the block. It typically specializes in porting and serving as a support developer on triple-A games. According to the developer's portfolio, it has worked on titles like Assassin's Creed Odyssey, The Outer Worlds, and Elder Scrolls Online. Sperasoft has experience working with Volition's games, as it helped with 2017's Agents of Mayhem.

This Saints Row: The Third remaster is the "Full Package" edition, the one that includes a truly stupid amount of DLC. Back in 2011, Volition sold the game's season pass by pledging 40 week??s of DLC. Most of it was inconsequential cosmetics, but it eventually prod??uced three campaign add-ons.

Saints Row: The Third Remastered is set to launch on May 22 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One for $40. You may notice one major platform is missing, but Switch already got its Saints Row: The Third port las??t year -- albeit without th?is version's fresh coat of paint.

The post A Saints Row: The Third remaster is coming to PC, P?S4, ?and Xbox One in May appeared first on Destructoid.

Saints Row IV: Re-Elected

Originally, Saints Row started as an alternative to the Grand Theft Auto series, but evolved into something much m??ore. The sequel juiced up the comedy factor, and by the time the third game rolled around we were officially in parody territory: the fourth entry just threw any pretense of sanity out the window.

That very game is actually coming to Switch next month in the form of the "Re-Elected" edition. Deep Silver has confirmed today that Saints Row IV will arrive on Switch on March 27, 2020, and you can pre-order it and its "25 pieces of DLC" ("pieces of DLC," that's such an early 2010s phrase!) now, which will run you $40. Re-Elected is roughly $15-20 on other platforms (PSN, PC), and is currently on sale for Xbox One for $5. Saints Row IV&nb?sp;also hosted another separate standalone release called "Gat Out of Hell," which served as an epilog??ue.

In case?? you missed it when it was released back in 2013, the gist is that you play as the President of the United States, who is tasked with fighting back a??nd alien invasion. Oh, and you're a super hero and you can wield a weapon that makes people dance. It's weird, but endearingly weird, and light on cringe. I recommend it.

The post The?? wildest and?? possibly best Saints Row game is coming to Switch next month appeared first on Destructoid.

What a great anniversary gift

Saints Row 2 isn't up to snuff on PC, but Volition has plans to fix th??e game.

During an 11th anniversary Saints Row 2 live stream, the developers announced that they've located the long-lost source code fo??r the PC port after a recent "last-ditch effort" finally paid off.

Volition is busy working on the next mainline Saints Row game, so fixing Saints Row 2 will be an "outside office hours" project, but chan??ges are coming: performance improvements, more stability, integrating Steam networking for co-op and multiplayer, and adding the p?reviously console-only DLC.

Senior community ?developer Mike Watson called the PC port initiative a "labor of love."

"Being able to now have the means to go in there and fix a lo?t of the problems with the game is kind of a dream come true," he said. "It's been my mission for the longest time." As for timing: "It's one of those things where it'll be ready when it's ready. We want this port to just be beautiful on all levels."

Modders have gone to great lengths to smooth out Saints Row 2 on Steam, but this is sorely needed.

Saints Row Dev Chat [Twitch via ResetEra]

The post Voli??tion is fixing Saints Row 2 on Steam at long ?last appeared first on Destructoid.

Grab your tiger and your octopus gun

As part of its latest financial report, THQ Nordic has noted that a brand new title the brain-bending Saints Row franchise is?? already in the works over at its stalwart studio Volition.

The new entry in the over-the-top, open-world, crime sim series is already noted as been "deep in development" and will be the first fully-fledged sequel since the super-power themed Saints Row IV, which hit the shelves back in 2013.

While no further details were forthcoming, one can probably expect the rampant violence, bizarre humour and shades of purple. All of which have been a series trademark since Saints Row The Third's tonal shift, which reinvented the series as an overblown, chaotic, "anything goes" alternative to games such as Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto.

The untitled Saints Row game is? currently in development at Volition for future release.

THQ Nordic Interim report Q1 April-June 2019 [THQ]

The post Development of a new Saints Row title well underway a??t Volition appeared first on Destructoid.

Deep Silver looking for feedback on other issues

Saints Row: The Third recently released for the Switch and it's kind of a mess. Digital Foundry, experts at evaluating game performance, have declared it possibly the worst performing game they've experienced on the platform, not to mention one of the worst evaluations they've ever done. It may boast a?? higher resolution than the last generation versions, but? this isn't even close to being an ideal way to experience the game.

Publisher Deep Silver hasn't let the criticisms fall on deaf ears, though. In an update over on its blog, the publisher outlined a list of fixes that will be coming to Saints Row in the coming weeks. The first post-launch patch, available later tonight, will directly address performance by lowering the rendering resolution of ?certain particle effects. There is also a mention of "related performance," which could mean a drop from the 1080p output that docked mode uses.

Along with the patch notes, Deep Silver has set up a form where? users can submit issues that crop up for different players. As outlined in the blog, this will relate to "input lag, default low sensitivity in controls, slider sensitivity in character creator, and texture and graphic bugs." You'll ??need to include your SD Card type, game region, and Switch system numbers.

While Saints Row: The Third shouldn't have released with this many problems, at least fixes are coming. Maybe? one day in the near future, we'll finally be able to play a version on the go that doesn't run like a s??lideshow.

Update coming soon! [Deep Silver]

The post Saints Row: The Third on Switc??h gets its first performance update appeared first on Destructoid.

The best 'The Third' since Shrek

Take it to the streets in today's contest for a Switch copy of Saints Row the Third: The Full Package.

I do a lot of giveaways for indie games, because I really like helping to spread the word for smaller games in the face of well-known games. I typically take those a little more seriously, becau??se they really do need all the good PR they can get. Stuff like this, though, I can kind of cut loose because honestly, who doesn't know what Saints Row is?

I've got a bunch of copies of Saints Row the Third: The Full Package to give away,?? and trust me when I say I won't be taking this task very seriously.

So, in case you don't know what Saints Row is, it was pretty much made in response to the ever-growing problem of GTA becoming too serious. In GTA you had to take on crime syndicates using mostly violence in well-written, cinematic epics. In Saints Row you could commit insurance fraud by ge?tting hit by cars and depreciate property values by spraying homes in shit.

The game doesn't take itself very seriously, so I'm not goin?g to, either.

So, now the game has come to the family-friendly Nintendo Switch platform because remember when Nintendo said they'd never, ever allow Night Trap o??n their console? My how the times have changed. This new release of the game? includes:

• City of Sin - Disrupt and dismantle the Syndicate stranglehold on weapons, cybercrime, and sex trades. Discover the secrets of Steelport, where there is action on every street corner, for better or, more likely, worse.
• Weapons of Crass Destruction - It's one thing to defeat your enemies. It's another to humiliate them. Hover jets, human cannonball cars and sex-toy warfare are all part of the fun.
• Joy-Con Crazy Customisation - Create the most outlandish characters ever seen, from washed-up celebrities to naked ninja pirates. Inside every sinner, there is a Saint. Who will you become?
• Portable Over The Top Co-op - Fly solo, or play online with a homie and for the first time – two players can play side to side via online or local multiplayer. Give naked skydiving a try, landing in your partner's flaming pickup as you make a suicide run toward a heavily armed Syndicate brothel. Steelport is more fun with a friend.
• The Full Package - Includes all three mission packs and more than 30 DLC items. All previously released content is included on the game card.*

* Two DLC packs – the Bloodsucker Pack and the Unlockable Pack, have been omitted for game balance and improvement based on feedback.

Ok, so do me a favor and watch this music video n?ow.

Now, make a comment about it. That's how you enter to win a key. Just tell me anything at? all about this song or video. I just saw it, and now you all have to, as well.

We have ten NA Switch keys to give away. Winners will be drawn on Thursday, May 16. Make sure to comment using a Dtoid account with your current email address on file. New users can sign up here to talk about weird music videos!

Saints Row the Third: The Full Package is available now for Nintendo Switch. Our sister site Nintendo Enthusiast also has some keys,?? so head over there for more chances to win!

The post Contest: Grab your gat for a Switch copy of Sa??ints Row the Third: The Full Package appeared first on Destructoid.

Tiger in the back seat or I'm out

As reported by Deadline, Koch Media is working with some movie industry heavy-hitters to get a film adaptation of their chaotic crimeathon Saints Row up and running. The film hopes to take the carnage of Stilwater and ??Steelport out of the digital world and onto the big screen.

Details are extremely sparse in these pre-production days, but the project already has a big time helmer in the form of Director F. Gary Gray, who has in recent years shot Straight Outta Compton, The Fate of The Furious and the upcoming Men in Black: International. The Saints Row flick will be written by Greg Russo, who is also currently rebooting a Mortal Kombat movie for Warner Bros.

One thing yet to be noted is the tone of the piece, so we don't know whether this film will be more in keeping with the hardcore crime, murder and slaughter of the early Saints Row games, or the brainwashing octopus guns and Japanese game shows?? of the franchise' back end. I know?? which mood I'm gunning for, how about you?

Saints Row?? is currently in pre-production for an unspecified release date?.

F. Gary Gary to direct Saints Row adaptation [Deadline]

The post Sain??ts Row movie on the way, but ho?w ridiculous is it gonna be? appeared first on Destructoid.

When keepin it real goes wrong

Deep Silver has finally shown off some footage of Saints Row: The Third running on Switch and it looks like Saints Row on the Switch. I'm not really sure what else to say about it, because it doesn't seem to sport any kind of visual upgrades over the PS3 or 360 versions. I had played it on both 360 and PC ?and this is leaning more towards the lower resolution console version than ??the PC one.

There are some bits where the framerate slows down, the textures look suitably last generation, and even the effects on the explosion distort the screen a bit. It doesn't seem terrible, running smoother than I remember it on Microsoft's old console, but I ca??n't help but feel like something else cou?ld have been done here. I guess I just expected a little too much out of this.

Still, we do know that the Switch version will have local wireless co-op, so it gets a lot of brownie points for that. You'll always be able to play with your friend?? on the Switch version long after the servers are shut down for the other ports. That's worth a lot more than upgraded visuals.

Saints Row: The Third Memorable Moments - When Good He??ists ?Go Bad (Official) [Saints Row via YouTube]

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In other words, you'll need two consoles for local co-op

Deep Silver is here to remind us that Saints Row: The Third - The Full Package is? coming to Nintendo Switch on May 10, and while I wasn't planning to double dip, local co-op has?? me pondering.

A new trailer has suggested the inclusion of "couch co-op," though the finer details leave me feeling a little deflated. It's true that "two players can play side to side via online or local multiplayer," but for the latter option, they'll each need their own Switch console. Don't go in expecting split-screen multiplayer. It's not a best-case scenario – some co-op support is better than none at all – but yeah, fair warning.

I'll always appreciate Saints Row: The Third for letting me wreak havoc as a large metallic man who, through increasingly bizarre circumstances, has come to? possess gre??at influence over Steelport.

These games are dumb as hell in the best possible way, and while it's tough to settle on a favorite, The Third might come in first. I like the balance it strikes between over-the-top power-fantasy scenarios and more grounded moments. Saints Row IV, meanwhile, pushes the story to greater extremes. Despite a?dding fun superpower-like abilities, the fourth game never resonated with me the same way.

Saints Row: The Third on Switch includes "all previously released content" on the game card with exceptions: two of the original add-ons, the Bloodsucker Pack and the Unlockable Pack, have been nixed. According to Deep Silver, it came down to "game balance? and improvement based on feedback."

The base game will command a not-unreasonable $40 price tag. The publisher is also planning a Deluxe? Pack on Switch with bonuses like a full-size poster, thumb grips, alternate cover art, and a "Deluxe Game Case Sleeve featuring the original 'old skool' 2011 artwork for extra tasty nostalgia."

Have you had your fill of this series yet?

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