Chris Stockman, design director for the original Saints Row, has declared the franchise dead following a lack of response from Embracer Group. Last November, Embracer approached him about a potential prequel idea, but months later, he reports being ignored. This comes after the 2022 reboot's failure and Volition's closure in 2023.
The Saints Row series, which began as an unexpected hit in 2006 by pushing boundaries in the urban sandbox genre beyond even Grand Theft Auto, faced challenges with its 2022 reboot. Developed by Volition after Stockman had left the studio, the reboot suffered from technical issues and tonal misalignment with fan expectations, failing to meet sales targets.
In November 2025, Stockman revealed that Embracer Group, the IP holder, had reached out to discuss his ideas for reviving the series. He pitched a prequel set in the 1970s, aiming to refresh the franchise while preserving its signature humor. However, responding to a fan on Discord, Stockman now states, "[H]onestly, I think the franchise is dead, unfortunately." He added, "I get the sense that Embracer has zero ability to do anything with it. I wish things were different. I tried my best to offer a path forward, but they've ghosted me."
Embracer acquired Volition in 2018 as part of the Koch Media purchase, and the 2022 reboot was the studio's only project under their ownership amid ongoing restructurings and staff shifts. Following the reboot's underperformance, Embracer shuttered Volition in 2023. Saber Interactive CEO Matt Karch commented on the reboot, saying, "They didn't know what they were building. They didn't have any real direction. It couldn't last. And so, who's going to fund them for the next game after that disaster?"
This development aligns with Embracer's pattern of canceling projects, including revivals of Perfect Dark and Deus Ex, and recent turbulence with Crystal Dynamics' Tomb Raider efforts amid further restructurings.