Saints Row 2022 is a full reboot of the open-world action-adventure series, developed by Volition and published by Deep Silver (now PLAION). It launched on August 23, 2022, for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, and it completely resets the franchise with a new cast, a new city, and a more grounded tone. If you're wondering whether this new entry is worth your time, here's everything you need to know about the Saints Row 2022 reboot, from its story and gameplay to its co-op, DLC, and system requirements.
What is Saints Row 2022?
Saints Row 2022 is a reboot of the original Saints Row series, not a sequel or a remake. Developed by Volition and published by Deep Silver (now PLAION), the game drops the older characters like Johnny Gat and Shaundi and instead introduces a fresh crew of friends who start the Saints from scratch. It's an open-world sandbox game where you create your own Boss, build a criminal empire, and fight rival factions for control of the city. The game is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, and it offers both single-player and cooperative online multiplayer modes.
Saints Row 2022 story and setting
The reboot is set in Santo Ileso, a fictional sun-soaked region in the American Southwest. This new city is a mix of desert, urban sprawl, and wealthy enclaves, and it's divided among three major factions. Your character, the Boss, starts out as a nobody who, along with three friends, decides to form the Saints and take over the city. The three friends are Neenah, a mechanic with a background in art history; Kevin, a DJ who wants to make people happy; and Eli, an MBA graduate with business ambitions. Each of them has a past tied to one of the rival factions, which gives the story a personal stake from the start.
The three rival factions you'll fight are Los Panteros, The Idols, and Marshall Defense Industries. Los Panteros are gearheads who favor muscle cars and melee weapons, and they control the Rancho Provedencia district. The Idols are a rave-cult hybrid with massive numbers, and they're all about chaotic, flashy violence. Marshall Defense Industries is the wealthiest faction, a paramilitary corporation with high-tech weapons and a cowboy aesthetic, based in the Lakeshore district. Your crew's goal is to take all three down and build the Saints into the dominant power in Santo Ileso.
Saints Row 2022 gameplay features
The gameplay in Saints Row 2022 keeps the series' signature open-world chaos but adds some new tools and systems. The most notable addition is the Wingsuit, which lets you glide across the map with a lot of control. You can fast-travel by starting on the ground or in the air, and you can use the wingsuit to dodge bullets and navigate the city from above. There are also special launch points around the world that give you massive airtime for wingsuiting.
Another big feature is Criminal Ventures. These are business fronts you can purchase across Santo Ileso, like Insurance Fraud or Money Laundering, which generate income and expand the Saints' influence. You'll need to defend these ventures from rival gang reprisals, adding a layer of territory management to the game. The car combat has also been revamped with three major changes: you can climb onto the roof of your car to shoot while driving, enemy vehicles now have separate HP bars for the car and the occupants, and there's a new Tethering mechanic that lets you attach objects to your vehicle and use them as wrecking balls. This tethering even works with helicopters, adding a lot of creative destruction to chases.
The open world is packed with side activities, from classic Saints Row diversions to new challenges. The tone is a bit more grounded than Saints Row 3 and 4, but it still has plenty of over-the-top moments, especially when you're using the wingsuit, grappling hook, and explosive weapons. The sound design and explosions are solid, and the soundtrack includes tracks that harken back to the original games.
Saints Row 2022 co-op and crossplay
Saints Row 2022 supports two-player cooperative multiplayer for the entire campaign. You can drop in and out of a friend's game at any time, and both players progress together through the story and side content. The co-op is seamless, meaning you can explore the open world, do missions, and cause chaos with a friend without any separate lobby or matchmaking screen. If you're looking for a guide on how to play cooperatively, the official co-op guide explains the drop-in/drop-out system and how to invite friends.
As for crossplay, Saints Row 2022 does support crossplay functionality. This means players on different platforms can join the same co-op session, so PC players can play with console players, and PlayStation and Xbox players can team up as well. The official crossplay details are covered in the PLAION support article, which confirms that crossplay is enabled across all platforms the game is available on. If you run into any issues with co-op or crossplay, the PLAION Helpcenter offers direct support via a "Contact Support" button if a fix is not found in the existing articles.
Saints Row 2022 system requirements
If you're planning to play on PC, you'll need to meet the minimum or recommended system specifications for Saints Row 2022. For the full breakdown of minimum and recommended PC specifications, the official system requirements article has the complete list.
Saints Row 2022 DLC and pre-order bonuses
Saints Row 2022 had several pre-order bonuses and post-launch DLC packs. There was also a digital-only pre-order bonus that added the "Los Panteros" and "The Idols" character packs, which included exclusive clothing and vehicle skins.
Post-launch, the game received several DLC expansions. If you want a full guide on pre-order bonuses and downloadable content, the pre-order/DLC guide has all the details, including what's included in each edition and how to claim your bonuses.
Is Saints Row 2022 worth playing?
The answer depends on what you're looking for. Saints Row 2022 has some clear strengths: the open world of Santo Ileso is fun to explore, the wingsuit is a blast, and the Criminal Ventures system gives you a reason to engage with the map. The car combat revamps, especially the tethering mechanic, add a new layer of chaos to driving, and the co-op mode makes the whole experience better with a friend. The game also runs well on most platforms, and the crossplay support means you can play with friends regardless of what system they're on.
However, there are some weaknesses that might give you pause. The new characters lack the charm and memorability of the original Saints, and the more grounded tone feels like a step back for a series known for its absurdity. The story is serviceable but not particularly gripping, and some of the side activities can feel repetitive. The graphics are decent but not cutting-edge, and the game has had some technical issues at launch, including bugs and performance hiccups.
If you're a fan of the older Saints Row games, you might be disappointed by the direction the reboot takes. If you're new to the series or just want a fun, co-op open-world game, Saints Row 2022 is worth picking up, especially if you can get it on sale. Waiting for a few post-launch patches and DLC releases is also a smart move, as the game has improved since launch. Ultimately, it's a solid but flawed reboot that has its moments, but it's not the definitive Saints Row experience that fans were hoping for.
