Revealed earlier this week during Gamescom Opening Night Live 2021, the fully rebooted Saints Row has been under fire since its big unveiling. Across multiple YouTube channels — including the official PlayStation, Xbox, and Saints Row channels — the game's CG announcement trailer has been bombarded with dislikes. Collectively, the trailer has more dislikes than likes at this point in time.
What's more, various Saints Row social media accounts have been hit with general negativity following the reveal. On Twitter, the official Saints Row account has been replying to some concerns. One reply in particular reads: "We are not backing down on this game. We get it, it's new and it's a shock reaction to a reboot like no other." This was after the same account had posted a gif exclaiming "haters gonna hate".
It's all a bit of a mess, to be honest. But why is the new Saints Row being criticised in the first place? Well, as stated multiple times, it is a reboot — and generally speaking, people overreact to change. But there's more to it than that. There are questions surrounding the game's more realistic art direction, and we've seen a lot of people having a pop at the character designs.
Indeed, the game's core characters don't really look like hardened criminals — more like hip teenagers with access to guns. But it's important to note that this reboot tracks the rise of a new Saints empire. You're meant to start out as a group of nobodies, before taking control of the title's city setting. And to be clear, there's full character customisation — your 'Boss' can be anyone you want.
It's also worth noting that we've seen the game in action — and it looks a lot more like Saints Row than the reveal trailer might suggest. At least, in terms of gameplay. You can read our thoughts in this Saints Row preview.
What do you think of the new Saints Row? Is this backlash justified? Roll with the gangs in the comments section below.
[source twitter.com, via videogameschronicle.com]
Comments 71
shame i liked what i saw.
and from the previews it seems like a proper saints row game gameplay wise.
maybe the devs should release a gameplay video to convince people it's a real saints row game.
The trailer made it look like a Fortnite spinoff. It's the same reaction I had when I first saw Destruction All-Stars.
It looked fine to me, personally. I liked the vibe the CG trailer gave off, and the very small snippet of gameplay looked like fun. But, then again, I've never been a big Saint's Row guy, so I don't fully understand the exact specific thing that people want out of this.
Also, I think people are judging waaaaaaay too much based on a CG trailer. They recently put out a 7 minute BTS video about it, and it looks pretty cool.
they made it more Fortnite and they should have made it more Amazon Prime Video's 'The Boys'
Kind of silly to go crazy over a 2 minute cgi trailer, rarely are those ever good regardless of game. I will wait to see actual gameplay to make up my mind if it indeed is a Fortnite spinoff.
@RicebinBernacky and we all know how it went with that one. Not even giving it for free made it last long.
Ah, the old EA "if you don't like it, don't buy it", yeah I think this game gonna flop. I'm out the moment I saw that horrible, annoying half-bald haircut in the CG trailer, I think that's haircut only exist on weird people on twitter.
I don't think the weird people on twitter will buy it though, they only like to" like" and "retweet" the trailers, not buy the games.
So the trailer created quite the row, you might say?
I like it. Maybe it’s an age thing? The latest gen only had SR 3/4/Hell so don’t like the franchise.
Where as I have very fond memories of OG SR and SR2
It’s not hard to see why a certain subsection of gamers threw a big hissy fit when they thought you couldn’t change the boss’ design from the one they showed off in the trailer. Despite every single press release saying you can change the boss’ design. It’s all very very funny given that the ones moaning about this game constantly talk about ‘cancel culture’ and ‘pandering’ and yet are demanding that devs change their vision to suit what they want.
@Wolfie_Pie This!
This, this, this, this, this, this!
Well, I haven’t disliked any videos or raged on Twitter (generally advise anyone keep away from that cesspit) but I do understand the backlash. The game does not look or feel like a Saints Row game. The ‘haters gonna hate’ remark is quite childish and only adds to my concerns. It seems the new development team, much like the characters in the game are ‘hip teenagers’ themselves (minus the hip part). Oh well, I won’t be loosing any sleep over this tbh.
I liked the trailer.
Personally I wasn't sold on the Fortnite graphical style or the painful hipster gen-z characters but I'm willing to give it a chance. If this was a 'new' game there wouldn't be half the blowback, by slapping the Saints Row brand on it gamers rightly or wrongly have an expectation that the trailer obviously didn't meet for many.
I thought the trailer looked decent. Although, they should have realized that the guy wearing the light up cat helmet was a little too Fortnite for people these days.
Need to see more of it. Didn't see any giant dildos though so will probably pass.
There is backlash to everything these days. Fight racism people complain. Fight poverty people complain. Reboot a film people complain. Reboot a game and people complain. What's worse is its the people complaining that wanted the reboots and remasters in the first place
It looks awful. More like a Fortnite-spinoff than a Saints Row game. Totally lacking the attitude of the original.
No biggie. Just one more game to ignore.
@Wolfie_Pie Except that it's in their interest for as many people to buy it as possible. I for one don't like it so I won't buy it and if too many people feel the same way I do then their game will flop and they'll lose a ton of money. The characters are just as important to a Saints Row game and I'll say it again, this looks like if YouTubers were trying to start a gang.
Old graphics and maybe doesn't fit their style, afterall people will either like the games or not. I wouldn't mind seeing a change but if it doesn't work then they can only learn from their mistakes.
@Wolfie_Pie
Total agree if their fans the people who buy their games don't like it don't buy it, 100% agree.
It's looks like a bunch of SJWs who liked Watching Dogs 2 are trying too keep the streets save from crime, it doesn't look like Saint's Row one bit.
It reminded me of when i first saw Watch Dogs 2. I wasn't crazy about the look of the cast then, but then I tried it and loved the game. I haven't played a Saints Row in a long time but I might give it a whirl during a less busy time. Early next year is going to be tough though for this game. Lots of competition next year.
As long as you can still steal cars by jumping through the windshield then I'm in.
Perhaps instead of saying "we are not backing down", show people something that assures people the game will be good.
I'm quite meh on the trailer, however I will say the screenshot with the four people, doesn't look very Saints Row when compared to Gat, Shandi and Pierce
Too early to know, let’s see the finished project.
I've only play a handful of Saints Row games. Can't say I'm a big fan of this franchise. I get that SR3 and SR4 became a little silly and doesn't seem to take themselves seriously (kinda taking some inspirations from GTA or something), which is fine but I don't know, that reboot trailer is looking like it's really trying too hard to appeal to everyone and it's cringe.
I haven’t been a fan of Saints Row since part 2 but I’m super proud of the dev for not backing down! Far too often we see companies, celebrities, etc. walk back their comments and succumb to the pressures of Internet whining. So good to see someone tell them to sc*ew off!
@AndyKazama Exactly this. It’s their job as the developer to make the game seem appealing. They clearly didn’t do that for a lot of people. But what did they expect when the formula is changed so radically? Then they get all defensive and start attacking the fans who aren’t on board with their new vision, labelling them ‘haters’ 🙄, which only adds fuel to the fire. I think a simple, ‘hey, we understand we’re going in a new direction but give us a chance to convince you...’ would have been a more appropriate response. I can admire them standing behind their decision but if the game fails spectacularly or even underperforms, they’ll only have themselves to blame due to this disastrous PR.
I thought it looked pretty good... I loved the predecessors too - especially 3.
@Wolfie_Pie The problem is that this seems to be pandering to all those tropes that you apparently hate, instead of pandering to what longtime fans expect. The goofy "Fortnite-esque" humor, heck even the character models look like the sort of thing you'd find in those games.
I get what you're saying about them doing what they want to do but I'd argue that they're just trying to hit what is the most popular of the tropes right now, it's just that they're getting backlash from the diehard fans that supported them. As usual, time will tell if this gamble will pay off for them...but judging from reactions it looks like it's not going to do well. I will respect them if they ignore criticism and continue on bull headed this way...but if I were their investors I'd start pulling out support.
My hype died if I'm being honest. I doubt I will get it Day One now. I will let others test the waters first.
Meh... Let them complain. The developer know that them complaining mean very little. This game will still end up selling well like every other game that people complained about before it.... (insert: pokemon, last of us 2, Cyberpunk, Call of Duty)
@zupertramp sigh take my like
I really don't get the Fortnite link... Saints Row has always been cartoony.
@get2sammyb Tbf, the cat helmet thing was more Destruction All-Stars than Fortnite. And Destruction All-Stars is what happens when you order Fortnite from Wish.com
I didnt like the look of the boss but if you can change him / her then i guess so its not a issue. But i can see what people dislike the group is a hipster dumpsterfire. But the the graphics look nice i just need to see how it runs and im waiting for a review with this first.
I used to be with ‘it’, but then they changed what ‘it’ was. Now what I’m with isn’t ‘it’ anymore and what’s ‘it’ seems weird and scary.
Oh boy is this going to be the DmC reboot controversy all over again where the devs are being unprofessional?
Lol another "bOyCoTt", I assume.
We've seen how successful they have been in the recent years.
Nothing but a little sandgrain compared to the actual consumer potential.
I can't wait for the damage control when this game will outsell all the previous installments.
@get2sammyb You're talking about 3 and 4 not 1 and 2.
Hmmm... I wouldn't exactly call the art direction realistic. It certainly leans into some stylisation. Well I wasn't huge on the trailer, but preview impressions seem alright. Hopefully the gameplay and writing hold up.
I can't wait to be blamed for them not being to make a sequel when it doesn't sell.
I don't care either way and i think the game will flop, SR hasn't been relevant in years and this trailer seems more like the Devs copying what's popular then forging there own identity.
I wasn't overly thrilled myself but I never understood the point of using a dislike button. That sends no messages to companies. Don't like what you see? Don't buy the game. I'm going to wait until we get more information before I make a decision but what I saw and what I'm reading hasn't made the best first impression.
@WallyWest
Yeah, great point. It's very similar to the first game. I liked that one a lot, but it didn't really have its own identity, it really was just a prettier looking GTA San Andreas with, imo, a better control scheme and slightly improved shooting mechanics.
I was hoping they would go back to the roots and make it more serious… and even more gritty and give us a proper choice from GTA…. Instead they’ve made fortnite.
That’s cool kids love it. They’ll make money and they’ll be happy.
Not for me but that’s ok.
I was disappointed that the trailer didn’t include any actual gameplay and was just CGI? Pre-rendered? But all the gameplay footage I’ve seen so far looks like saints row, but then again I don’t go into a frothy rage when I see a black woman in a video game so I might be missing something.
@Would_you_kindly No way man. We're gonna keep on rocking forever
Forever
Forever
Not sure the hate to be honest, the characters looking like teens did throw me off but it's not a bad thing per se, just gotta get used to it.
I respect them for keeping to their original vision, except the direction it’s taking them appears to be off a cliff.
The new characters look like huge douchebags but hey maybe the gameplay will be good enough to win me over.
@Wolfie_Pie i agree with you 100% although pretty much all the moaners will still buy it anyway...this is the problem with social media in that too many herberts have a voice now and most of them would not say half the crap they come out with in person...i think the game will still sell well as the saints row franchise has always done well and has always somehow managed to stay current..i've always viewed the game in the same way i view marvel vs DC comics...GTAV is marvel and saints row is DC..
It’s not like at this point in development they can even try to back down.
I feel this game is going to be to the IP what DMC was to Devil May Cry. I’m not buying it, but I just hope it does not sell too poorly. Rather the studio survives to make a proper Saints Row 5.
Silly to get so angry over a none-gameplay trailer. I'm old, been gaming since 1990. I'm fine with seeing young whipper snappers in games. I suspect there are... other... reasons some "gamers" are getting angry about it. So tiring.
@BrettAwesome and there it is.
@Wolfie_Pie well said lol 😊👍
Probably a bunch of borderline Neanderthals who are mad that they have to play characters made up of colored folk (and possibly lgbtq+) and females instead of a loud know it all alpha male type.
Im excited. This looks really promising (for a cgi trailer) and honestly i hate the whole modern internet/social media vibes/asthetics im sensing (which plagues SO many games etc these days) but whatever, its a game, just let me do crazy SR stuff lol, as long as i get to create my musclebpund badass female character 😁
I was a big fan of 1 & 2 but really didnt like where sr ended up.
Edit: i cant remember ever liking a single character from a SR game so the fact the main crew are kinda hipstery doesn't really bother me. Better than Johnny gat or whatever tf.
Its just prejudice aholes crying and being little baby snow flakes as usual (as they always like to spout off to others... Biggest babies ever lol)
@nessisonett Fortnite from Wish would've been cheaper than Destruction All Stars.
I was never into saints row, so i didn't even know what was going on.
But, i do know a bit about ignored feedback and devs need to stop being that way. This is not the 80's where anyone could make whatever game they want and still make a profit and find an audience.
You need millions in sales these days and the only way to do that is to meet the consumer expectations. The game is not yours alone anymore. It's a team effort between the devs and the community.
In this internet world, reactions trickle down. This negative reaction will reach potential buyers and make them skip the game. Who wins then? Stubburness? Loss of jobs? A beloved series put on hold?
Time to adjust to the times and meet the community half-way, or no one is gonna have a good time.
@Nepp67 @Tharsman DMC was terrible the characters the total disrespect towards the old fanbase they deserved all the backlash they got for their tonedeaf handling of the original fanbase.
Calling the fans "haters"... That always works out so well.
@lolwhatno Imitating the most popular BR shooter in the world is not taking risks, my friend. Following a trend never is.
@Flaming_Kaiser and this is the same. Although I got to say, I had not seen this side of the comments yet, anyone whining about inclusiveness should go, lock themselves on their basement and turn off internet access.
Inclusiveness is not “a problem” and bigots should stop their hypocrisy and go away.
I have played 1-4 extensively and so far I am not impressed but will need to see more before deciding on passing on it or buying it.
Horizon 2 comes out the same month
this is the barbie spinoff of saint's row lol
The problem is that anyone who disagree with anything these days are just called whiny people. The same can be said about the people whining about the people whining.
I am a saints row fan but what I saw just didn't sit well with me as I didn't see what had this saints row feel so I am just going to ignore it.
The problem is you don't know how this will go. At the moment they are taking a book out of the DmC situation and back answering the fans which did flop both in sales and with the fans.
Look at the backlash that the sonic movie got. They took the outcry from people and they change sonic and that movie was a hit that they are making a sequal and you can damn bet that it was because of the changed they made. I paid for the movie to show my support to the creators for listening.
TBH the best course of action when dealing with an outcry is either do 2 things. Ignore them and stick to your vision which could be a hit/flop or take the legit feedback into account and make the game better for the fans which that too could make it a hit/flop.
The worst thing you can do as a dev is to piss off your potential buyers with things like "haters gonna hate" attitude. That isn't going to help. Cause if you response to legit concerns are with snarky comment that is just going to ward off people who were maybe on the fence about getting it. Just Ignore them. Exception would be if the insane minority does the stupid thing like death threats. Those can't be ignored and should be callout out for that disgusting action.
@HeroYoshiko I think its silly to get angry. I just think it looks awful.
@Wolfie_Pie volition went bankrupt once... Creators owe absolutely everything to their costumers... Without costumers they have nothing.
The character design in this thing is abhorrent, it doesn't matter that the boss is customizable... The main crew look like a bunch of tiktokers.... The villains in that trailer look way better than the main crew.
@Mgene15 I think it looks like upgraded Saint Row 3 graphics. But that's fine, that's great, I don't expect or demand people like everything I like. But what I don't get is how some men get so angry over their sexuality because not every character in every game/movie looks like John Cena. 6 likes that guys comment has gotten. I've worked with gay men before, I never once felt like I was going to "hate my penis" just because they exist. It seems to me more like these people have mental health issues and need help, but on the internet, these people get applauded for their brokenness. If you have this much hatred for someone you've never met, just because of the way their born (hair colour, skin colour, sex, whatever), you're the problem, not them.
@HeroYoshiko Because the wat they're born!
@Tharsman Depends i dont mind something for everyone but i do mind if my favorite are just replaced just to act like a company is inclusive i think its lazy and cheap just to pander make some cool original characters and i wont care what they look like.
But what lore was there in Saints Row anyway its a gang where you make your own main character the game looks nice though. Im happy they went with the more cartoony look. Only thing i hate is why go with hipster kids.
Personally i would like to see a little more adult version 20 plus atleast. But who knows maybe it will be fun to play it looks nice.
they can enjoy dead sales did they not go under already once? I wanted a real Saints Row 1 Vibe with better graphics, not this.
Sadly not surprised given the trailer they shared...hopefully actual gameplay will turn around people's negative reactions.
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