Since its inception, the Saints Row franchise has been well-received among fans, but the most recent game in the series, Saints Row 2022, has been a huge letdown as it failed to capitalize on the popularity of the series.
The disastrous reception of Saints Row 2022 had a significant impact on Volition Games. In an unfortunate turn of events, Embaracer Group has decided to shut down the studio immediately as part of its restructuring plan.
Why it matters: This is another instance that highlights the pressure on studios with each AAA release. Due to incredibly high budgets and long development cycles, each failure is more harmful than before.
Embracer Group had allocated a budget of $100 million for Saints Row 2022. However, the game underperformed, leading to massive losses for Volition Games’ parent company.
In light of such circumstances, Embracer Group has made a tough decision. Thankfully for the developers at Volition Games, the team is being helped through this challenging period.
Volition Games has been responsible for the Saints Row games since the first installment of the series launched in 2006. Since then, the studio has produced a number of popular open-world titles.
Last year, the developer aimed to reboot the series with a new direction. This was a massive risk for an established franchise, and it ended up receiving criticism for various aspects.
Following the release, Embracer Group also confirmed that it would examine future projects carefully, with each game having to earn the right to exist.
Since the studio has been shut down, the future of Saints Row remains uncertain for now. In the past, major franchises were discontinued for long periods after their developers were shut down, but it remains to be seen if the same will happen with Saints Row.
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