Skip to main content

New Saints Row trailer details the game’s new gang and setting

A new trailer for Saints Row gives players a good look at who the new Third Street Saints are, who they’ll be fighting, and what the backdrop for their aggressive criminal takeover will be.

SAINTS ROW Welcome to Santo Ileso Trailer

While the upcoming self-titled Saints Row game will be keeping some things the same, the reboot is set to introduce multiple changes to the franchise. A majority of those differences won’t be in gameplay, but rather the game’s setting and cast of characters.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Saints Row will take place in Santo Ileso, a city set in the American Southwest. In the trailer, developers working on the game stress that this new locale is extremely important, as it fits into the game’s overall theme (and weirdness). The game’s map will be the largest of any title in the Saints Row franchise, but it’s not clear how much of that terrain will belong to the city of Santo Ileso, and how much of it will be the surrounding desert. Regardless, Saints Row‘s new setting seems like a fair departure from the likes of Steelport, the city players romp through in Saints Row 3 and 4.

Recommended Videos

Along with a new setting, players will be greeted by a new cast of characters in the Saints Row reboot. Johnny Gat and Shaundi are nowhere to be seen and are instead replaced by Eli, a money-laundering genius; Nina, a talented getaway driver and gearhead; and Kevin, a wild gun nut with a passion for cooking. Naturally, players still fill the shoes of The Boss, who they can customize as much as they’d like.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

In a preview for Saints Row, developer Volition confirmed that while much of the game would be new, it would still have the same Saints Row bones. The game will include the same wacky arsenal of weapons, stylish vehicles, and ways to make money, including mini-games like Insurance Fraud.

Saints Row is set to release on February 22, 2022 for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

Otto Kratky
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Otto Kratky is a freelance writer with many homes. You can find his work at Digital Trends, GameSpot, and Gamepur. If he's…
5 big details from Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s new trailer that you may have missed
Link stands near allied humans and Gorons in Tears of the Kingdom.

The final trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has arrived, and it's full of new information about the upcoming Switch game. We got a better look at its open world, saw many new characters, and got another peek at all kinds of vehicles that players can make. In fact, the trailer was so crowded with new information -- and Tears of the Kingdom's mechanics and story are still so shrouded in mystery -- that there are some things that you might have missed, leaving a ton to speculate on.
When watching it again, we found a ton of curious details that had us wondering about unannounced features. We've rounded up five details in particular that could have some major implications for the gameplay and story of Tears of the Kingdom. 
Link has companions

One of the most surprising things about this new trailer is that it seems to confirm a companion system, or at least NPCs that are way more active than they ever were in Breath of the Wild. During a montage around the 1:38 mark, we see Link riding a horse through an active battle between humans and Ganondorf's forces. Later on, after the three-minute mark, we see new Rito, Human, Zora, Goron, and Garudo working with Link. The Zora soldier specifically helps Link fight an enemy in a two-on-one encounter.
Companions aren't a new feature to open-world games; titles like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim have it. Still, these more active NPCs and an entire potential companion mechanic highlight just how deeply core gameplay systems have been modified for Tears of the Kingdom.
New characters and enemies

Read more
How to gain XP fast in Saints Row
Saints Row player shooting at enemies from the top of a car.

Leveling up in Saints Row is crucial to your success. The first handful of missions only throw a few enemies your way, but by the end of the game, you’ll be facing off against hordes of opponents equipped with overpowered weapons. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to earn XP and quickly level your character -- earning new skills and enhancing your stats along the way.

Here are the fastest ways to gain XP and level up in Saints Row.

Read more
How to earn money fast in Saints Row
The main character of Saints Row glides in a wingsuit.

Saints Row gives you countless ways to earn cash and grow your criminal empire. Whether you’re playing as a bounty hunter, establishing criminal enterprises, or just following the main story, nearly everything you do in Saints Row will reward you with cash. However, not every activity is worth your time if you’re trying to quickly fatten your wallet. Here’s a closer look at six activities in Saints Row that’ll earn you money fast.

Further reading

Read more