Embracer Eyes A Saints Row Prequel — And GTA 6 May Finally Have Real Competition

Waiting for GTA 6 is starting to feel like waiting for a bus that insists it is definitely on the way. In the meantime, a familiar name just popped up with something that could fill the gap: Chris Stockman, the director of the very first Saints Row, is working on a pitch for a prequel that would drag the series back to its scrappier, street-level roots.

So, what is actually happening?

Stockman told PCGamesN he has been approached to put together a pitch for a Saints Row prequel. The assignment is pretty specific: take it back to where it all began. That also happens to be what he wanted after the reboot — which, for all its reasons, pushed the franchise into a corner he thinks it was always going to hit. In his view, that shift is where the series lost the spark that made the original game click.

If you remember Saints Row 1, it was grounded by comparison: a crime story about a crew of larger-than-life weirdos in Stilwater, but still rooted in character and territory wars. That is the vibe Stockman wants to resurrect — gritty, character-driven, and focused on the criminal antics that gave the series its identity in the first place.

Important to note: this is early. We are talking about a pitch, not a greenlit game. No release window, no platforms, no team announcement. But the fact that the guy who set the tone in the first place is steering the concept has fans cautiously optimistic.

Could a Saints Row prequel actually square up to GTA 6?

Look, Saints Row is not on Rockstar’s level right now. But on paper, the matchup is obvious: both series live in exaggerated versions of American cities where crime, gangs, and power grabs run the show. If Stockman delivers a tighter, character-first take while GTA 6 goes big and bombastic, there is room for both to thrive — and maybe even for Saints Row to snag some attention while everyone waits on Rockstar’s behemoth.

• Tonal lane: A return to gritty, street-level storytelling would give Saints Row a cleaner identity again.
• Nostalgia advantage: Fans of the original Stilwater era have been asking for this exact pivot.
• Timing: Rockstar’s release timing always feels a little squishy, even with a schedule on paper.
• Price chatter: There are rumors GTA 6 could launch at around 100 dollars for the base game. If that happens, a cheaper Saints Row could look extra tempting to a chunk of players.

Where this leaves things

Right now, it is a pitch with promise, not a project you can preorder. But the idea of the original director steering a prequel that actually leans into what made Saints Row special — messy crews, turf fights, and a city that feels dangerous and alive — is exactly the kind of comeback swing this series needed. If it lands anywhere near that target, GTA 6 might not be the only open-world crime game people are talking about next year.