Two weeks ago, the release date for the third installment of Saints Row (not to mention some tasty images) were leaked onto the web. Now, the expected official announcement has been made: THQ and developer studio Volition, Inc.  have announced that the third Saints Row game, officially entitled Saints Row: The Third,  will be out on shelves for the holiday season this year for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.

Following the end of the massive gang wars of the second game (here be spoilers), Saints Row 3 continues directly from where we left off: the Saints have completely taken over the town of Stilwater, and have become a household name around the world. From the start of the game you'll continue from the position of a well-respected gang boss. Danny Bilson, the executive vice president for THQ Core Games, made no bones about your powerful starting status:

"There’s no delivering pizza, no shuttling family members about in a long series of taxi missions. Instead, you take all the power of the Third Street Saints and you take the world by storm."

Since simply having already won would have been boring, Saints Row 3 will take the player to a new city as the Third Street Saints fight a new threat: the Syndicate - a global criminal organization who demand tribute from those they view as 'lesser-gangs.' Of course, the Saints don't bow to this and the fight will lead to a new city, playing out the most outlandish gameplay scenarios ever seen'.

The Third Street Saints have come a long way since the series started.

Looking at the above screenshot, it seems that Volition is going in a new artistic direction over the first two Saints Row games. Though no in-game screenshots have been released, it wouldn't be surprising to see the graphics go for a more realistic direction. However, fans shouldn't be worried about the trademark humor of the game - THQ told us to 'strap it on,' so like the other games, this one won't take itself too seriously. Even a respected crime boss needs to be able to streak and ride on top of cars now and then!

While no more has been revealed about the game, it is expected that more news - and likely, some screenshots - will be revealed later this month.

What do you think about the Saints Row series? Are you excited about Saints Row: The Third?