Over the last decade and a half, the Saints Row franchise has done an impressive job of not only becoming a household name in gaming, but becoming a crime title that manages to stand apart from gigantic competitors like Grand Theft Auto. That being said, the Saints Row series is just coming off a rather lengthy, nearly decade-long hiatus after Saints Row 3 and 4 felt a little too similar to one another, and the pressure is on for the upcoming Saints Row reboot to bring the franchise back to life.

Scheduled to release in just two weeks on August 23, Saints Row is taking a similar, but slightly more grounded approach to the usual Saints Row formula, and modernizing that formula with a wealth of new mechanics and quality of life improvements. With this game being a reboot of sorts, the Third Street Saints are long gone, and a brand-new gang, simply called The Saints, is taking the spotlight.

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The New Saints Gang

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At the head of this newly formed Saints gang is the player-character, simply known as The Boss. Though their appearance is fully customizable, their backstory is set when the game begins. Originally an employee of Marshall Defense Industries, a private military company that prides itself on having the most advanced weaponry and vehicles around, The Boss realizes that there's an opportunity to forge their own path, and become the leader of their own rival gang. But they can't do it all by themselves.

After a bit of talent scouting, The Boss discovers three like-minded individuals, all hired by the different rival gangs across Saints Row's Santo Ileso. The first of these is Neenah, an incredibly talented getaway driver and a former member of the car-obsessed Los Panteros gang. Originally an art major at university, Neenah fell into a life of crime after becoming a mechanic as a means to survive. Now, she's one of The Saints' founding members, and uses her skills to further their expansion goals.

Originally a member of neon-wearing, EDM-loving gang The Idols, Kevin is The Saints' wildcard. With a childhood spent in a rotating door of foster homes, Kevin had to adapt quickly to changing environments, and learnt that the best way to make new friends was through music and cooking, both of which he remains passionate about in adulthood. Serving as a DJ for The Idols, Kevin rarely saw action up close, but upon joining The Saints, he's ready to do just about anything to stay on top. He may be a little temperamental, and he's certainly got a few screws loose, but Kevin is the heart of The Saints and is unapologetically loyal to those he cares about.

The final and maybe the most unique member of the new Saints crew is Eli, a businessman that stays as far away from the fighting as humanly possible, but isn't afraid to get his hands dirty when it comes to behind-the-scenes criminal organizing. Acting as The Boss' right-hand man when it comes to expansion and the actual logistics of running a budding criminal empire, Eli is far from being a timid university graduate. Eli is the brains of the group, and uses his expertise to determine exactly where and when The Saints should strike, making him a force to be reckoned with.

Saints Row releases on August 23 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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