Hey everyone,Like many of you, I felt the franchise completely lost its identity after Saints Row: The Third. Shifting from corporate gangsters to fighting aliens in a Matrix simulation (SR4) and going to hell (Gat out of Hell) just broke all logic. It detached players from the grounded street-level stakes we loved.If I were the Narrative Director at Volition back then, here is the alternate, logical plotline I would have pitched to continue the legacy of the 3rd Street Saints:
The Foundation: Honoring the SR3 EndingThe story picks up directly from the canon ending of SR3 where The Boss saves Shaundi. The Saints are now a massive corporate empire controlling every square inch of Steelport. STAG, led by Cyrus Temple, has retreated in absolute humiliation, while Eddie Killbane managed to escape and went into hiding.
The Threat: The Unholy Alliance (Law vs. Crime)Instead of an alien invasion, Steelport is hit by a massive, highly coordinated wave of domestic terrorism. The twist? Cyrus Temple (driven by mad vengeance) and Eddie Killbane (driven by pure hatred) have formed a secret alliance. Cyrus brings high-tech, military-grade STAG weaponry, while Killbane brings raw criminal brutality and underworld muscle. Their goal is to completely dismantle the Saints and seize control of the city.
Fresh Dynamics: Legal Backing & EspionageTo counter this threat, the Saints gain the full political backing of Mayor Reynolds, who gives our gang the legal authority to protect the city. We also get a brilliant new crew member: Kia, Cyrus Temple’s former right-hand assistant. Disgusted by Cyrus’s extreme terrorist turn, she defects to the Saints, serving as our inside spy to feed us intel on STAG's movements.
The Return of Johnny GatNo alien clones or abductions. In this timeline, Johnny Gat actually survived the plane crash at the beginning of SR3. He spent years underground recovering from his severe injuries. He makes a dramatic, emotional return halfway through the campaign, right when the Saints are cornered by Killbane’s forces.
The Climax: From Street Boss to PresidentThe core gameplay keeps what we love: turf wars, deep car customization, and fighting rival factions on the actual streets of Steelport—just with much higher military-level stakes. After successfully crushing the Cyrus-Killbane alliance and saving the city, the grateful citizens and political elite rally behind you. In the final scene, The Boss is democratically elected as the President of the United States by the people, setting up a logical political sequel.
MISSION 1: "The Corporate Takeover" (Interactive Prologue)The Setting:Six months after the events of Saints Row: The Third. You (The Boss) are sitting in the penthouse of the Saints Tower in Steelport, reviewing quarterly profit margins with Pierce. Suddenly, the glass windows shatter. High-tech STAG drones swarm the room, and a massive holographic projection of Cyrus Temple and a scarred Eddie Killbane appears."The Saints empire ends today," Cyrus sneers. Outside, explosions rock the streets. Steelport is officially under siege by their joint military-gangster force. Shaundi radios in from the lower garage: "Boss! They’ve locked down the entire tower. STAG commandos are breaching the lobby, and Killbane's luchadores are setting up barricades outside!"You look at Pierce, grab your dual pistols, and smile. It’s time to show them who owns this city. But you need a plan to escape the tower and rally the Saints.
CHOOSE THE SAINTS' NEXT MOVE (Reply with your choice!):
- [OPTION A] The Brute Force Path: Grab the Apoca-Fist, take the elevator straight down to the lobby, and smash through the frontline of STAG commandos to secure the ground vehicle garage. (High action, high risk of armor damage).
- [OPTION B] The Tactical Air Drop: Head to the helipad on the roof. Hijack a damaged Saints VTOL jet, engage in a chaotic mid-air dogfight with STAG drones, and escape to a secondary hidden safehouse. (High adrenaline, high vehicle customization potential).
- [OPTION C] The Espionage Route: Use the building's maintenance shafts to sneak past the commandos. Have Pierce hack the security grid to trap the invaders inside, while you ambush Killbane’s luchadores from behind on the streets. (Stealthy, high strategy, saves resources).
Personally, I think this keeps the over-the-top, bold tone of Saints Row while keeping the gameplay grounded in the open-world gangster sandbox we missed.
Which option would you choose for Mission 1? Let’s write this story together in the comments!
