One of the most outrageous open-world crime series may be heading back to its gritty beginnings. Chris Stockman, design director of the original 2006 Saints Row, says he’s been asked to prepare a formal pitch for a prequel—informally dubbed Saints Row 0—by the franchise’s owner, Embracer Group. The proposed direction aims to recapture the grounded tone and street-level drama that defined the first game before the series leaned hard into over-the-top spectacle.
Stockman left Volition shortly after Saints Row launched and later founded Bit Planet Games, the studio behind VR titles like Ultrawings. He recently told fans on the official Saints Row subreddit that he’d been asked to create a pitch for a new take on the series, later clarifying it would be a prequel. His renewed involvement follows a mid-October interview in which he criticized the 2022 reboot for abandoning beloved characters such as Ben King and Julius, arguing it no longer felt like Saints Row. He openly urged Embracer to bring him in and said he could reunite key members of the original team with the right budget.
The vision he’s discussing is a 1970s-set origin story exploring the early days of the Saints Row gangs from the first game, including the Vice Kings. Think teenage crews on the rise, era-authentic style—yes, big afros—and a soundtrack steeped in 70s flavor. After his comments gained traction, Stockman says a formal pitch was requested, signaling genuine interest in a back-to-roots revival.
Speaking further, he noted there is interest in the concept and reiterated his goal to restore the series’ original identity. In his view, later entries drifted so far from the foundation that the franchise boxed itself into a corner. He wants to get the old band back together and make a proper comeback story for the Saints.
For now, details remain under wraps and the project is still at a very early stage. Internally, some are referring to it as Saints Row 0, but nothing is finalized. Even if the green light comes, fans shouldn’t expect to play it anytime soon—timelines being floated suggest it wouldn’t arrive before 2030.
If it happens, a 1970s prequel could deliver exactly what longtime fans have been asking for: a raw, character-driven Saints Row focused on gang origins, street power struggles, and a distinct sense of time and place. Until then, all eyes are on Embracer and Stockman to see whether this pitch becomes the next chapter in the franchise’s history.
