Quietly confirmed in a conference call back in May, THQ today officially announced a sequel to GTA-inspired Saints Row.

Due out in 2008 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, Saints Row 2 promises to offer vastly expanded customization options, an expanded city, all new vehicles, sandbox tools and toys as well as both online co-op and competitive multiplayer.

Additionally, the story is said to be much darker this time around, dealing with betrayal, revenge and redemption.

THQ’s Saints Row 2 Set To Revolutionize Player Freedom

Sequel in Multi-Million Unit Selling Franchise to Deliver Expanded and Fully Transformed City and True Open-World Online Multiplayer

THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) today announced Saints Row™ 2, sequel to the multi-million unit selling title that redefined open-world gaming for next-generation consoles, is scheduled to deliver all new, genre-defining features and game play for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system in 2008. Developed by THQ’s critically acclaimed internal studio Volition, Inc. using their proprietary open-world engine, Saints Row 2 will offer vastly expanded customization options, a totally transformed and expanded city of Stilwater, all new vehicles, sandbox tools and toys as well as both online co-op and competitive multiplayer. More information on the game can be found on the official Saints Row 2 web site at www.saintsrow2.com.

“Saints Row set the bar for next-gen open-world development, earning praise for its unmatched customization, controls, and the genre’s first-ever online multiplayer,” said Scott Guthrie, executive vice president of sales and marketing, THQ. “The team at Volition, Inc. is leveraging invaluable experience gained on Saints Row to build Saints Row 2 into a game that sets the standard for combat, player freedom, customization, vehicle game-play, team-based co-op and the most compelling online open world experience to date.”

“Saints Row 2 has a much darker and more sinister story that leads your character down a path of betrayal, revenge and redemption against the city that has left him for dead, although we’ve blended that with the same light-hearted humor from the original.” said Greg Donovan, lead producer, Volition, Inc. “Couple that with the most robust open-world feature set ever developed in the genre, and Saints Row 2 promises a gaming experience that will offer players the perfect balance of gripping narrative and compelling gameplay options.”

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