Gossip time. Gather round the water cooler, friends, colleagues and that guy who refills the vending machine; let’s dig up some juicy rumours about the next Saints Row game.

First, let’s hear from Chris Stockman. Stockman was one of the lead designers on the original Saint’s Row game before jumping ship for Human Head. He’s heard “around the campfire” that Saints Row 4 is headed to current generation consoles (and presumably PC) in late August.

Oooh! That would see it releasing just ahead of Grand Theft Auto V in September, which is bold but potentially clever, and the timing and platforms ties in with what we last heard from THQ about the anticipated sequel.

Speaking of THQ, after its collpase Saints Row and Volition were snaffled by Koch Media, parent company of the publisher Deep Silver. Let’s see what Deep Silver PR manager Aubrey Norris has been up to – what’s this? She’s teasing “something HUGE” at PAX East this year?

Well, well, well. Oh crap – boss is coming. Ahem! About that sales report…

Source: Twitter, more Twitter

Gears of War creator Cliff Bleszinski has sparked debate this weekend by giving it as his opinion that the Saints Row franchise should “keep the crazy action and game mechanics” but “lose the gimps and dildos and purple suits”.

“If your average guy is embarrassed to be playing a sequence in a game when his wife walks in that’s a bad sign,” he said. “The SR team is amazing. Dildo holds them back. It’s immature.”

Bleszinski said Volition could give Rockstar “a run for their money” and that he found Saints Row: The Third mechanically more fun than recent Grand Theft Auto games. As hilarious as he finds the dildo, “it doesn’t help industry perceptions”.

“Once you put a dildo in your game it doesn’t matter if your controls, pacing, graphics are all great. You’re ‘that game with the dildo,’” he concluded.

Source: Twitter: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07