Saints Row’s Reboot Nixed Plans For Johnny Gat Return

The reboot of ‘Saints Row’ was initially envisioned to focus on the iconic character Johnny Gat and reintroduce other beloved figures from the franchise. Unfortunately, none of that happened for a lot of reasons.

As a celebrated open-world series, ‘Saints Row’ has faced a decline in its reputation over the years. The release of ‘Saints Row 4’ in 2013, just a month before Grand Theft Auto V, brought a major change in how open-world gaming was perceived. Subsequently, the development team at Volition moved on to different projects, leading to a decade-long hiatus for the Saints Row series.

This decision followed the inclusion of unconventional elements such as hell, space, and superpowers in the last installment, marking a departure from the series’ original roots.

Sadly, the reboot encountered a harsh reception, criticized by both fans and critics for its lackluster narrative, irritating characters, and outdated gameplay mechanics. The decision to deviate from the original Saints characters, particularly fan-favorite Johnny Gat, was perceived as a misstep.

Ultimately, the reboot failed to meet expectations, and Volition faced closure earlier in the year. The future of the Saints Row series remains uncertain, but indications suggest that the outcome might have been different.

According to Comicbook.com, a YouTube video by mrsaintsgodzilla21 shed light on the reboot’s development, stating that a significant portion was initially dedicated to crafting a new story involving characters like Johnny Gat, Dex, Shaundi, and Pierce.

Volition had outlined a “20/80” rule, intending to blend the over-the-top mayhem of Saints Row: The Third with the grounded gangster gameplay reminiscent of ‘Saints Row 2.’ However, purported interference from higher-ups at Volition and directives from publisher Deep Silver led to a troubled development process, potentially preventing a project that could have resonated well with fans.

What’s your view on this unfortunate story? Do you feel the developers messed up? Let us know in the comments below!