Saints Row: The Third hits this holiday season

It has been well over two years since Volition confirmed that a third Saints Row game was in development, but all that was known about the game was that it would be markedly different from its predecessors. Gamers eager to return to the crime-ridden streets of Stilwater finally have a few more details, as THQ officially announced the game today, revealing a holiday 2011 release window in the process.

Set for release on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC, Saints Row: The Third picks up with the player in control of the Third Street Saints. Once a small-town gang, the Saints have grown to control the organized crime within Stilwater and even have their own brand, with licensed sneakers, energy drinks, and bobbleheads. However, the Saints' success has drawn the attention of the globally powerful Syndicate, a criminal fraternity that insists on a cut of the action in Stilwater.

It's not yet clear how much the gameplay will depart from the series' open-world formula, but THQ is promising "the most outlandish gameplay scenarios ever seen." To that end, THQ core games executive vice president Danny Bilson took a swipe at competition like the Grand Theft Auto series, noting, "There's no delivering pizza, no shuttling family members about in a long series of taxi missions."

THQ has been vocal about its multimedia plans for Saints Row. In recent years, the company has announced plans for a movie, a 3DS game, and an Xbox Live Arcade tie-in for release alongside the third installment.

For more on the previous installment in the series, check out GameSpot's review of Saints Row 2.