Saints Row IV: Re-Elected

Saints Row IV: Re-Elected is the enhanced version of the open-world action game Saints Row IV. The self-created boss of the 3rd Street Saints rises to become President of the United States. Barely in office, the gang must face the alien Zinyak: he traps its members in an artificial version of the city of Steelport. Instead of a credible gangster simulation, you get deliberately over-the-top action that combines superhero abilities, science fiction and satire.

The Re-Elected addition denotes the enhanced edition with the important mission DLCs and numerous packs for weapons, clothing and vehicles. On consoles this edition was released separately; the Windows PC version of the original game was later brought up to the Re-Elected level.

The original PC version of Saints Row IV is dated August 19, 2013 on Steam. Re-Elected followed as a separate version adapted for the console generation of the time, in January 2015: the German PlayStation Store lists January 23, 2015 for PS4, and the US Xbox Store lists January 20, 2015 for Xbox One. These are regional store dates and not an additional release of new platform versions.

On Nintendo Switch, the enhanced edition appeared on March 27, 2020. Owners of the Windows PC version received the free upgrade to Re-Elected on December 8, 2022, including previously released DLC packs. This was an upgrade of the existing PC version, not a second native PC game. The details on launch and edition should therefore be read separately.

Native versions are documented for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. On PC, Steam now lists the title as Saints Row IV: Re-Elected. The PS4 and Xbox One versions are separate console releases; the Switch version arrived in 2020 and supports handheld, tabletop and TV modes.

The PlayStation Store explicitly lists playability of the PS4 version on PS5 as backward compatibility. The Xbox store listing for Xbox Series X|S also shows no native store entry, so it proves no Xbox Series re-release. Therefore PS5 and Xbox Series should not be counted as separate native releases in this profile.

In the open city of Steelport, story missions, optional activities and freely played chaos alternate. Zinyak's simulation turns the city into a stage for increasingly strong paranatural abilities: the boss runs at superhuman speed, jumps onto skyscrapers and uses powers in combat. As a result, the movement and combat flow differ markedly from the more vehicle-oriented gangster approach of earlier series entries.

Firearms and alien technology remain important. The deliberately absurd gadgets include the Dubstep Gun, Inflato-Ray and Disintegrator. Character, clothing and weapons can be customized. Despite the superpowers, Saints Row IV remains a mission-based third-person action game, not a separate flight simulator or a competitive superhero game.

According to PLAION, Re-Elected bundles 25 DLC packs. The two largest expansions in content are Enter the Dominatrix and How the Saints Save Christmas: they add their own narrative mission storylines. In addition, numerous weapon, outfit, vehicle and superpower packs belong to the collection. Unlike temporary shop bonuses, these expansions are a permanent part of the Re-Elected package.

Gat out of Hell is not part of the regular Re-Elected edition. The standalone spin-off was at times sold together with the game as a double pack. It should therefore be understood neither as included DLC nor as merely another name for Re-Elected.

PLAION lists as minimum for the PC version 4 GB RAM, an Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 or AMD Athlon II X3, a GeForce GTX 260 or Radeon HD 5800, and 10 GB of free storage space. As recommended hardware, the publisher lists among other things an Intel Core i3-2100T or AMD Phenom II X4 and a GTX 560 or Radeon HD 6800 graphics card with likewise 4 GB RAM.

The official list names Windows Vista and Windows 7 as historical operating system references. This does not guarantee full support for these now outdated systems or every modern PC configuration. The current details of the chosen store are authoritative.

The campaign supports co-op for two people. Steam lists online co-op, while Xbox and PlayStation also name two online players. The Nintendo Store lists online play for two as well as wireless local connection. On PlayStation, the store says PS Plus is required for online mode; on Xbox, the membership requirements stated in the store apply.

The PC crossplay introduced in December 2022 connects the Windows versions across Steam, Epic Games Store and GOG. The official announcement refers to these PC stores, not to cross-platform play with PS4, Xbox One or Switch. According to the developer FAQ, regional version differences may also restrict some co-op connections.

The central progression system changes not just numbers but movement through Steelport. Missions and upgrades expand abilities for fast running, long jumps and the offensive use of supernatural powers. This makes many routes through the city possible without a car. The powers complement the extensive arsenal and are combined with the individually customizable weapons and characters.

The appeal of the system lies in combining exploration and combat: activities in the open city provide things to do outside the main story, while new abilities shorten previously cumbersome routes. If you are looking for the classic, more realistic gangster life, do not confuse the much more fantastical fourth installment with the early Saints Row games.

On December 8, 2022, Re-Elected replaced the previous Saints Row IV editions on the Windows PC stores. According to the publisher, existing purchases were automatically upgraded and the included expansions unlocked; existing save games and unlocked achievements should be preserved. At the same time, crossplay began between the Windows store versions on Steam, Epic and GOG.

For players who need the older version, the official Steam announcement points to a legacy beta branch. An announced later Linux adaptation is not given a confirmed Re-Elected release date there. Therefore, no identical technical release for Linux or a new native console platform should be inferred from the Windows upgrade.

The German PlayStation version lists German on-screen text and English voice-over. Nintendo's German product page lists German alongside English, Spanish, French, Italian and Russian as available languages for the Switch version. Steam also lists German interface text and subtitles, but not full German voice-over.

On consoles you play with a controller; on PC, Steam also lists standard features such as Steam Cloud and integration into the Steam library. Which online services are available depends on platform and membership.

The name Re-Elected can be confusing: on Steam it is listed today alongside the 2013 release year, although the actual remake only came later for consoles. The store still shows the history of the original PC game. Store entries visible on newer consoles are not automatically evidence of a freshly developed native version.

Three boundaries help with classification: Saints Row IV is the main game, Re-Elected the edition with built-in expansions, and Gat out of Hell the separately released spin-off. The four native platform versions should be considered separately accordingly.