Interesting news for Saints Row fans in general, sad news for those of you waiting for the "Enter the Dominatrix" standalone expansion for the series third outing. THQ announced today that "Enter the Dominatrix" will no longer be a Saints Row 3 expansion, and will instead be incorporated into the production of Saints Row 4. That's right, Saint's Row 4 is in the works as we speak and scheduled for a 2013 release. Check out the full press release below:
AGOURA HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun. 20, 2012-- THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) and Volition, Inc. today announced development of the standalone expansion Saints Row®: The Third – Enter the Dominatrix™ will now be incorporated into production of the next great sequel in the Saints Row® franchise, tentatively titled “The Next Great Sequel in the Saints Row Franchise.”
"When I looked at the Enter The Dominatrix expansion in production at Volition, I was blown away by the ideas and desire to expand the fiction of the franchise,” said Jason Rubin, THQ’s President. “I asked the team what it could achieve given more time, more resources, and a broader scope for the project. We all agreed we wanted to play that game. When it comes to Saints Row, it’s clear our fans want bigger, better, and even more over the top, and that’s why Enter The Dominatrix will now be incorporated into a vastly expanded, full-fledged sequel, scheduled for calendar 2013.”
Added Rubin, “We believe the potential for this sequel is far greater as a full-priced, full-length, high quality, connected experience.”
The change in production will shift net sales from THQ’s 2013 fiscal year into fiscal 2014. As a result, THQ currently expects to have an approximate $20 million reduction to non-GAAP net sales and an approximate ($0.03) impact to non-GAAP net loss per share for fiscal 2013 when compared with previously-announced guidance.
I have Saints Row 3 on my shelf, still shrink wrapped, but I've heard great things about it. THQ is definitely struggling as a company; they may believe that sales of a DLC expansion would not help them as much as another title in the franchise. Offerings for Saints Row 3 DLC were kind of slim and uninspiring, and while "Enter the Dominatrix" was not planned to be a part of the premium Season Pass, I can't help but feel that Season Pass holders were kind of screwed as far as DLC was concerned with the game.
That being said, the fact that THQ hyped this expansion up for Saints 3, but now totally changed their idea and are incorporating it into a sequel has to speak volumes about the quality of it, though. What do you think?
