The first half of 2022 has given gamers some of the best video game experiences in recent memory, with titles like Elden Ring, Pokemon Legends: Arceus, Stray, and Kirby and the Forgotten Land all offering distinct, and exciting new experiences that really show how far the gaming industry has come. And while it may seem like the new AAA releases are slowing down, August is ready to taking the industry by storm once again, and by far one of the most anticipated launches is Saints Row, the reboot of the iconic crime empire franchise.
Releasing in just under a month, on August 23, 2022, Saints Row will see players once again becoming the Boss of the Saints gang, this time composed of some brand-new faces, each playing an integral role in the organization. Based on the trailers and behind-the-scenes footage for Saints Row, it seems as though the core gameplay loop will task the player with growing the Saints' reputation by taking over Santo Ileso's many districts. But that won't be an easy task, as Santo Ileso is already being controlled by a number of rival gangs, each of which pose a unique threat to the Saints.
Saints Row's Rival Gangs
From the information revealed so far, it seems as though Saints Row will have three rival gangs for the player to face off against. The first of these is Marshall Defense Industries, a private military corporation that has recently set its eyes on Santa Ileso and plans on taking over by any means necessary. At the beginning of Saints Row's story, the player-character actually works for Marshall Defense Industries, but promptly leaves when they realize they could take over Santo Ileso instead.
Going up against Marshall Defense Industries won't be an easy task, however. Being a PMC, Marshall soldiers are kitted out in some of the best armor around and are often equipped with a range of high-tech weaponry that verges on Sci-Fi. Laser miniguns, gigantic rocket launchers, shielded VTOLs, and heavily armored tanks are all just some of the gear players will need to fight against when they inevitably take on Marshall Defense Industries.
Though they don't boast the same heavy weaponry or air superiority as Marshall, Los Panteros are still bound to give the player a tough time on the streets of Santo Ileso. Donning bright yellow sports gear, Los Panteros mainly use handguns, assault rifles, and rocket launchers, and are widely known for their affinity for souped-up cars and bikes. Players are guaranteed to run into Los Panteros throughout Santo Ileso, which will likely trigger one of Saints Row's new car chase sequences, where the player can now ram into opposing vehicles, Burnout style.
Wearing bright neon helmets and clothing, the Idols are the last confirmed faction in Saints Row. A light satire of EDM and rave culture, the Idols are said to act similarly to a cult, but rather than worshipping a prophet or god, they worship head-banging electronic music. The general aesthetic of the Idols hearkens back to earlier titles in the franchise, specifically Saints Row 3 and 4, where neon lights were a prominent aspect of the art style. Players can expect to come across the Idols throughout Santo Ileso's nightclub scene, which the player will undoubtedly need to take over at some point on the Saints' journey to complete domination over the city.
Saints Row is set to release on August 23, 2022, on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
