A Saints Row prequel that promised to take the series back to its roots now appears to be stuck in limbo, with little hope of moving forward anytime soon. New details shared by Saints Row design director Chris Stockman, one of the key creative figures behind the original 2006 game, suggest the project has effectively been abandoned by the current rights holder.
The first real buzz around this Saints Row prequel surfaced in October 2025, when it was revealed that Stockman had been contacted about building a formal pitch for a new entry. The idea quickly caught the attention of longtime fans because it sounded like the kind of course correction the franchise needed after the 2022 Saints Row reboot struggled both critically and financially. Many players felt the reboot failed to strike a consistent tone and didn’t connect with the series’ core identity, so a “back-to-basics” approach felt like a natural next step.
According to Stockman, the concept was centered on the early history of the Third Street Saints, set in a 1970s version of Stilwater. Rather than pushing the story forward, this Saints Row prequel would have explored how the gang’s world took shape in the first place, with a spotlight on the origins of major figures like Julius Little and Benjamin King. For fans invested in Saints Row lore, a 1970s Stilwater setting also offered a fresh angle while still staying grounded in what originally made the series compelling: street-level power struggles, shifting alliances, and the rise of a crew that would become infamous.
That potential revival now seems to have hit a dead end. Stockman recently indicated via Discord that the project has been “ghosted,” explaining that communication from the parent company has stopped and that whatever internal drive once existed has dried up. He also shared a blunt impression of the situation, saying he feels the company has “zero ability to do anything with it.” In practical terms, that means even if there was once a path for a new Saints Row game—especially one aimed at longtime fans—it’s no longer a priority, or may not be feasible internally.
This stalled Saints Row prequel update also lands in the shadow of major changes surrounding the franchise in recent years. Embracer Group has gone through significant restructuring, with multiple cutbacks and closures. Most notably for Saints Row, original developer Volition was dissolved in 2023, leaving the series without the studio most closely associated with its identity.
For now, the takeaway is disappointing but clear: the proposed Saints Row prequel set in 1970s Stilwater isn’t moving ahead, and the franchise’s future looks uncertain at best. Fans hoping for a Saints Row comeback that focuses on the beginnings of the Third Street Saints may have to wait much longer—or accept that the series could remain dormant for the foreseeable future.
