Saints Row: The Third Multiplayer Cut in Favour of Co-Op

77
Richard Walker

Volition has decided to axe the competitive multiplayer from Saints Row: The Third in response to overwhelming demand from fans for co-operative play. Apparently, competitive multiplayer in both of the previous two games wasn't nearly as popular as the main story-driven campaign, so Volition has gone to town with the third game's co-op.

As such, every story mission will now feature drop-in and drop-out co-op, as will every other activity in the game. Sounds like a big leap in the right direction to us. "The majority of people wanted the single-player and co-op experience, so we're focusing on blowing that out of the water," senior producer Greg Donovan explained to Game Informer.

"We want this cohesive experience where players walk away going 'I can't believe I'm seeing this. I can't believe I'm f***ing doing this,'" Donovan added in reference to Saints Row: The Third's single-player missions.

Game Informer has also had exclusive access to the game's new weapons, which include a laser-guided airstrike that lays down a layer of napalm on large groups of enemies like the Luchadores (pictured), a bomb-dropping Predator Drone and an RC Gun that fires an electronic bug onto a vehicle, enabling you to assume control of it. Imagine being able to take over the wheel of a gang boss's car and drive it into a river. Lovely stuff!

There will also be a disturbingly wobbly sex toy bat to wield - if that sounds like your thing - and there'll be all manner of outlandish weapon upgrades, like scopes, underslung grenade launchers and triple-barreled shotguns. What's not to like?

Check out the first screenshot from Saints Row: The Third, obtained by Game Informer, who is also running a massive Saints Row feature in its April issue.

Comments
77
  • I'd say that's a fair compromise :)
  • Sweet loved the coop in SR 2!
  • That's great news that a company are willing to pull away from tacking on some mediocre multiplayer and focus on the solo/co-op side. The first 2 games were great as they were but this is shaping up to be brilliant.
  • Online was good on the 1st one, not so much on the second. So they can scrap it.
  • I think I'm in love
  • Wow, it's ironic that I'm actually playing Saint's Row 2 co-op as we speak. I can not freaking wait for this game!
  • yes i can't wait
  • Insert a picture of the "fuck yeah" guy here.
  • Nice! Had Saints Row 2 for some time, and I have one achievement. PURE shenanigans (Get it?) Nothing more.
  • It seems like Volition really does seem to care about their product a lot more than I initially and justifiably thought. Cheers to them.
  • Weird, some of my comment wasn't submitted... Can't wait for this actually, the screenshot inspires me!
  • YAY! No online achievements and at least online co-op will suffice.
  • i guess this could be good news. but does this mean no 16-player free roam like GTA4? cause if so then i think im gonna pass on buying this one...
  • DAY 1 BUY! Looks amazing! Gonna be by far the best Saints Row yet. Love that's there's no multiplayer level up achvmnts.
  • That screenshot looks horrid. I loved the first two but this that screenshot just made me change my mind about this one.
  • Thank God some devolopers are realizing that mp is NOT necessary for every single game they put out.
  • can it be a big co-op game? say 8 player co-op, the mini games would be insane.
  • sweet
  • Fantastic decision. To be honest, the MP in SR2 wasn't bad at all, but the co-op was easily the defining element. Cannot wait for part 3.
  • I can't wait for Saints Row: The Third. The first Saints Row was the reason I got a 360. No multiplayer means there won't be any cheats on it too, which can only be a good thing.
  • They actually took away that horrible multiplayer? OK I officially LOVE Volition now. Saints 3 is a day 1 buy!
  • Is it still the two player co-op or is it 4 player?
  • Finally... SKI MASKS time for some real holed ups:) I'm a little dissapointed about this as I was hoping a return of PTP and BOR in mp, as long as there's no kingpin, I'm ecstatic. These weapon additions sound like a blast (literally) but it's safe to say we won't see the true "street gang" thing the first one had :/. Oh well, ski masks!
  • Hopefully the co-op in the third one won't be one giant glitch like the second one was.
  • Bullcrap! I loved the MP especially in 2. One game they don't need to pul the MP in.
  • So, let me get this straight? No multiplayer, a triple barrel shotgun, and a big dildo to beat people with.....did I get that all right? Volition, you nailed it! I just hope the COD effects they added (i.e. predators and napalm airstrikes) are done the right way, because I can only see that as something that should only be available once in a specific mission, not every five minutes. Also, maybe this lack of a multiplayer will make the single and co-op campaign move more smoothly and with less glitchiness than the last two games. I'm now super stoked about this game, and I can't wait.
  • I'd say that is a mighty fine choice
  • I wish more games would ditch VS multiplayer for co-op, I for one find VS modes dull/boring and generally bundled in every bloody game these days whether it needs it or not. I for one have been looking forward to another trip to the row after the 2nd game blew me away by being 100 times better than I thought it would be, Plus it was a great pick me up after the GTA 4 mobile phone bollocks! This game can't come soon enough for me ;)
  • #23 In an interview about a year ago, they said it will be 4 player co-op. Hopefully they don't change that, but seeing how they are now even MORE focused on Co-op and not doing multiplayer...I think its safe to say it will be 4 player. #25 Was the glitch you experienced where all cars disappeared before they get near you? and you could no longer do missions? I had that happen to me, but only after I got the DLC.
  • Thank you, Volition. Can't wait for this.
  • The less attention they give the multiplayer, the better. SR2 is still awesome fun for me and I'm proud of my 4xx gamerscore. Tried the MP once but... yeah, focus more on the single player and co-op and it's that much more fun.
  • Also, @16 - you loved the first two games despite their not being the prettiest but you see a picture of luchadors with guns and you think "this isn't pretty enough. I'm not playing The Third?" Good on 'ya.
  • Hopefully will be a good idea, as I'd much rather have a better co-op experience with mates than a dodgy multiplayer forced into it that I wouldn't play too much...It'd be good if some other developers did the same.
  • I was very excited when I read that there was an activity involving driving around with a Tiger in the backseat of the car that mauls you when you fuck up. And even more excited when I read the co-op player has to fight it off the driver.
  • thank god, Co-op was so much fun in number 2, thanks for not putting a half ass afterthought multiplayer
  • I enjoyed both previous games MPs so this sucks imo. I'm still looking forward to the game but I hope they can make it less glitchy in co-op than like it was in SR2.
  • This is the best thing they could have done. The competitive MP was horrific in the first two. The second game was broken to hell, but I see that what they were going for was fun. Overall, though, the best thing they could do (and NEED to do) is get a new engine... hopefully it's prettier, but more than anything, it needs a stable framerate. This was sorely lacking.
  • Fantastic news. The amount of online achievements the first two got was infuriating and i think they really should follow R*'s example in the third one.
  • I cant wait to get this game. Surely a first Day buy =D
  • The time they're saving by scrapping the multi-player should be used to make it 4 player co-op.
  • Holy crap... who'da thunk it? MP taking a back seat in the gaming world. Nice.
  • Beatin' baddies with Dildo never gets old. Reminds me of the good old GTA SA
  • Multiplayer wasn't very good anyway, but the co-op was brilliant, I am so glad it's returning!
  • I'm sorry did he just say they cut the whole multiplayer experience? I mean really?
  • didn't like the first one, second one had good co-op... Now I'm pumped for this one. They announced Arkham City has no multiplayer, despite the rumors, and now this? Its almost as if some of these companies are starting to pay attention. I love MP, when its good, but more most games, its not. And from what I can gather, most gamers dont want ok MP over great sp/co-op games. This is good news.
  • Great move! Got my purchase
  • Hopefullt the co-op cheevs aren't buggy, did every co-op mission with my mate, he got the cheevs........... I didn't. But anyway, who cares......... as long as insurance fraud is still in it LOL
  • Hell yes, this is a good move.
  • Me and my mate have played a lot of co op games but i think Saints Row 2's one defently around the top of our favourites. Never like the Multiplayer on either Saints Row games so to hear they are ditching it in favour of more co op, win win win
  • @16 how on earth can you decide to buy or not buy a game based on one screenshot? Imbecile.
  • This is some of the best news I've heard. I think I tried the multiplayer on each game once, and it just wasn't interesting. This game had possibly the best co-op I've played in a game right up there with Left 4 Dead,so I'm all for co-op all the way, and 3 or 4 player would be amazing, though I can't see it happening.
  • Co-op in Saints Row 2 was pretty solid on the whole and gave me and my friend many hours a fun. So news that they're concentrating on co-op for SR3 is fantastic news.
  • You really have to give them credit for being brave enough to remove multiplayer when nearly every other company feels its a must, no matter how crappy the results is. Kudos!
  • The multiplayer in Saints row 2 sucked at its finest, it wasnt really fun the maps werent good at all. Meanwhile the coop was fucking awesome, so i think this is one of the greatest decisions they ever made.
  • So carn't wait for this! ;D
  • could never get an online game so cool looking forward to it coming out
  • I just dont get why so many people liked SR1 & SR2, i played both and they sucked, GTA4 totally kicked both their a$$ses, SR3 will be no different imo
  • ok SR2 multiplayer did suck but thats becuz they took out the GANGS from SR1 that shit made SR1 one of the best mutiplayer experience I ever ad with the GANGS(CLAN)leaderboards it was so fun and a lot of people wher playing even after a year more then the single player I could put money on that so i guess I ave to put these days behind me BUT SR1 MUTIPLAYER WAS THE SHIT BOTTOM LINE
  • Yes it is! I got in the mail yesterday. Say, what's up with no sign of magazine for month and a half and than two showing up at my doorstep following week every time? They need to rething shipping thse out^^
  • Lets just hope in this one it warns about randoms running cheats before you let into your game rather than immediately after they've joined and screwed your save file
  • the competitive MP was terrible. 2 matches and I gave up on that. playing the campaign and side missions (Insurance Fraud anyone?) is a blast!! more of that please.
  • There will also be a disturbingly wobbly sex toy bat to wield reminds me of gta san andreas :L
  • Yay, this is the best news ever! SR2 has IMO the best co-op on xbox live and it's MP being in top 10 worst.. amazing, I love it! Every single achievement, here I come :D This is going to be the sandbox game I play for a very long time! Need more people on the SR3 forums discussing this! There are only a few of us on there at the moment.. I have posted some details on there that haven't been mentioned before as well.
  • I liked SR 1 and 2 but GTA will always be superior. Hopefully the game will not be a glitch like SR1.
  • Thats great and all but how about a 2nd disc with some fuckin GTA esque free roam. Thats the only thing this game series lacks.
  • maybe im wrong but i think only cheev whores are voicing their opinion here since the true SR fan would be asking about the return of protect the pimp i mean coop was good and all but were talking about the games backbone here the games mp was easily better than gta4's till this day ppl still play ptp only way im getting is if its 4 player coop since quite frankly a no mp 2 player coop experience will most certainly be the franchises death
  • maybe im wrong but i think only cheev whores are voicing their opinion here since the true SR fan would be asking about the return of protect the pimp i mean coop was good and all but were talking about the games backbone here the games mp was easily better than gta4's till this day ppl still play ptp only way im getting is if its 4 player coop since quite frankly a no mp 2 player coop experience will most certainly be the franchises death
  • Good news! The online stuff never remotely interested me. Co-op on the other hand (perhaps even 4 player) allows for the main story to be enjoyed by multiple players.
  • i was hope in for competitive modes i was hope in they brought back gangs and protect the pimp thats what made saints row 1 online better than saints row 2 saints row 1 was back in the good old days of online gaming
  • Thank god i loved saints row but the multiplayer was one of the worst i have ever played this game is sounding good already
  • Why does the MP get such a bad review. Sure death match was kinda lame and felt tacked-on at best, but Strong Arm was really really good, and unless i don't know where they stole the idea from it was original, something most other games can't say (or at least honestly, CoD did not invent gun game).
  • Compared to GTA4, Saint's Row 2's MP wasn't as good. But I did enjoy the co-op. I'm glad they've traded MP for Co-op.
  • I was overjoyed when I read about this in Game Informer. The MP in SR2 almost always degraded into a "Who can whore the RPG the most" or "Who can get to the Atlasbreaker first" contest... although, the former applies to every multiplayer shooter on earth I suppose. Either way, it has limited appeal. Ditching a worthless MP mode tacked on to prevent bitching and embracing the amazingly fun Co-op is nothing short of a miracle!
  • I'm not happy at all that multi player has been taken out of saints row as i believe all they had to do was bring back saints row 1's multi player with some patches to stop things like standby glitching i feel as though the company has only thought about Playstation customers by taking out the multiplayer because we all know how weak it was on saints row 2 which was the first saints row released on playstation so i really wish that multi player was included but im still excited to play it as i love single player too :)
  • If Volition if focusing on Co-Operative play, then why isn't it 4 Player Co-Op!? 4 TIMES THE FUN!?!?!
  • Basically everyone who thinks it's a good idea they removed multiplayer for Saints row the third are complete and utter morons, who never played Saints row 1 online multiplayer, and those who did were either complete noobs that couldn't grasp the online concept, or got fed up of getting beat so many times. Basically the main reason the Saints row 1 online multiplayer was so successful was due to the in-game online gang/clan leaderboard, the removal of that destroyed saints row 2. So instead of providing a good service to loyal saints row fans, they're plain lazy and just remove it, because it's too much hassle to simply re-make Saints row 1, with better graphics and customization.
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