Volition - Softonic English

Saints Row could return in the future despite the commercial failure of its latest installment

The Saints Row saga has experienced a notable decline in sales and interest since its third installment, which reached a milestone in the industry by selling over 5.5 million units. Despite the expectations, the Saints Row reboot in 2022 became a commercial failure, leading Embracer Group to close Volition, the studio behind the franchise, just a year after its release. Neither a sequel nor a reboot: a prequel However, the franchise could be on its way to a revival. Chris Stockman, creator of the first Saints Row, has […]

The Saints Row saga has experienced a notable decline in sales and interest since its third installment, which reached a milestone in the industry by selling over 5.5 million units. Despite the anticipation, the Saints Row reboot in 2022 became a commercial failure, leading Embracer Group to close Volition, the studio behind the franchise, just a year after its release.

Neither a sequel nor a reboot: a prequel

However, the franchise could be on its way to a revival. Chris Stockman, creator of the first Saints Row, revealed in a Reddit forum that Embracer has contacted him to discuss the possibility of developing a prequel to the original game. According to Stockman, the company requested proposals from him, and he expressed his willingness to carry out a new concept that recaptures the semi-realistic and satirical tone characteristic of the early installments of the saga.

Stockman commented that his vision includes the possibility of setting the game in different decades, suggesting that they could explore the 70s, 80s, or 90s, which would bring an innovative and nostalgic approach to the narrative. However, the feasibility of this proposal is uncertain, especially after the closure of Volition and the restructuring of investments in Embracer, which raises doubts about whether the discussions between Stockman and the management will actually materialize.

Despite the uncertain situation, many fans of the saga hope that Stockman’s vision can rejuvenate Saints Row and return the essence that made it a benchmark within the genre during the craziest moments of the video game industry. If progress is made in this direction, the franchise could find a new path in an increasingly competitive market.

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This Marvel character had a video game so violent that you won't believe it until you see it

Jon Bernthal returns as Frank Castle in future Marvel productions, a piece of news that excites fans of the character, known as The Punisher. His fierce and complex portrayal has left an indelible mark on the comic book universe. However, this return raises the question of how the character will be seen in the future, especially after Marvel’s acquisition by Disney. A character addicted to violence In this context, it is a timely moment to remember one of the most iconic video games of the character: The Punisher, released in 2005 by Volition. This title does not […]

Jon Bernthal returns as Frank Castle in future Marvel productions, a piece of news that excites fans of the character, known as The Punisher. His fierce and complex portrayal has left an indelible mark on the comic book universe. However, this return raises the question of how the character will be portrayed in the future, especially after Disney’s acquisition of Marvel.

A character addicted to violence

In this context, it is an opportune moment to remember one of the most iconic video games of the character: The Punisher, released in 2005 by Volition. This title was not only a success but also marked a milestone in the genre by incorporating notorious combat mechanics, such as the use of human shields, ultra-violent executions, and extreme interrogations, elements that highlight the inherent violence of the character. Inspired by the successful Max Payne series, the game not only replicated its style but also added a narrative and a much darker and macabre approach.

The game allowed players to experience the brutality of Frank Castle in a third-person shooting environment, where executions included extreme tortures, such as the use of nail guns and cremations. This graphic representation of the character aligns with the comics, but raises questions about whether such visions will continue under Disney’s direction.

The return of Bernthal as The Punisher is indicative of the sustained interest in the character, while also suggesting that we may not see such a grim representation in Marvel’s narrative elements in the future. The comparisons with other video game titles about the character, such as The Punisher: No Mercy and The Punisher: The Ultimate Payback, lead us to reflect on how extreme violence faces restrictive barriers in the Disney era.

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The creators of Saints Row were developing a Batman game

The Strong National Museum of Play has acquired the Volition collection, which includes essential materials to reconstruct the 30-year history of the developer behind the popular Saints Row series. This surprising find offers a unique insight into various forgotten projects, including a playable demo of a Batman game, developed in 2003, that was never released to the public. Stealth, puzzles, and everything we expect from the bat The museum’s digital preservation director, Andrew Borman, recently showcased the demo, revealing a game that features stealth mechanics and puzzle-solving that anticipated aspects of […]

Stealth, puzzles, and everything we expect from the bat

The digital preservation director of the museum, Andrew Borman, recently showcased the demo, revealing a game that features stealth mechanics and puzzle-solving that anticipated aspects of future titles in the Arkham series. Although the demo suffers from certain imperfect aspects, it showcases the early innovations of Volition, such as the use of tools like binoculars, grenades, and a grappling hook.

The context of the Batman demo is intertwined with the development of a game called Underground, which was supposed to be a heist title in an open world. However, this project was canceled for not resonating with the expectations of the marketing team after the success of Grand Theft Auto III. The co-founder of Volition, Mike Kulas, had mentioned that the game’s mechanics did not meet the market demands at that time.

Despite the similarities that arose between what Underground was supposed to be and the ideas outlined in the Batman demo, the game never saw the light of day due to the interruption of its development. Thus, the acquisition by the museum not only preserves fragments of Volition’s history but also highlights how the studio has even more history than we know.

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Harry Potter was about to have an RPG in the style of Baldur's Gate 3

Harry Potter, a cultural phenomenon that transformed teenage narrative in the early 2000s, had a limited impact on the world of video games. Despite the enormous popularity of J.K. Rowling’s novels and their successful film adaptations, the potential of its magical universe did not translate into memorable video games in those early years. An RPG that could have been a true milestone Between 1998 and 2000, the studio Volition, known for its work on the Saints Row series, planned to develop an RPG set in the world of Harry Potter, following the trends of […]

An RPG that could have been a true milestone

Between 1998 and 2000, the studio Volition, known for its work on the Saints Row series, planned to develop an RPG set in the world of Harry Potter, following the trends of titles like Baldur’s Gate. According to Andrew Borman, director of digital preservation at The Strong National Museum of Play, the Volition team was immersed in the plot of the first two books of the saga and outlined a prototype in a presentation to the rights holders, which included iconic characters like Harry and Hagrid.

The demo, although rudimentary and made in just a couple of weeks, showcased a world that evoked the village of Hogsmeade, in addition to implementing character-switching mechanics that could have added depth to the game. Unfortunately, despite the enthusiastic presentations, the project never received approval and was shelved without the public ever knowing of its existence.

In an ironic twist, the closure of Volition in 2023 put an end to any hopes of reviving this ambitious project. While fans have been able to explore the world of Harry Potter across various platforms such as movies, books, and the recent success of Hogwarts Legacy, the realm of video games has had to wait to capture the essence of the saga through other developments and adaptations.

Thus, what could have been a memorable delivery in the digital environment has become a forgotten chapter in the history of video games, highlighting the difficulty of translating such a rich and complex narrative into an interactive format in its early years.

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The director of Baldur's Gate 3 has the key to ensuring single-player games don't disappear: make better games

The world of video games is at a decisive moment, marked by the unprecedented rise of multiplayer titles and online components. Games like Marvel Rivals, GTA Online, and Counter-Strike 2 have captured the attention of millions of users daily, leading to a resurgence in the importance of these social experiences in the industry. However, this phenomenon has raised concerns about the future of single-player games, whose development costs have grown significantly, making it difficult to achieve profits and leading some to project a bleak outlook for this […]

The world of video games is at a decisive moment, marked by the unprecedented rise of multiplayer titles and online components. Games like Marvel Rivals, GTA Online, and Counter-Strike 2 have captured the attention of millions of users daily, leading to a resurgence of the importance of these social experiences in the industry. However, this phenomenon has raised concerns about the future of single-player games, whose development costs have grown significantly, making it difficult to achieve profitability and leading some to project a bleak outlook for this genre.

Innovation is what will keep single-player games alive

Swen Vincke, founder of Larian Studios and director of Baldur’s Gate 3, has spoken out strongly on this topic, challenging the narrative that suggests single-player video games are doomed to disappear. On his Twitter account, Vincke argues that innovation is the key to revitalizing this category of games. He has pointed out that claims that there is no future for these projects can discourage investment in the sector, something he considers harmful to the industry as a whole.

On the other hand, Matthew Karch from Saber Interactive has expressed his concern about the high production costs that have led to the downfall of studios like Volition, affecting the continuity of franchises like Saints Row. In a recent interview, Karch emphasized that in a context where titles have million-dollar budgets but generate revenues that are often much lower, it is natural for many developers to face uncertainty and unemployment.

Despite these challenges, Vincke’s defense of single-player games could mark a new perspective within the industry, highlighting the need to find a balance and foster innovation to ensure their long-term viability.

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