Microsoft has announced that several new titles will soon be joining the ranks of the Xbox 360's budget priced Platinum Hits line. The new additions include some seriously heavy hitters, namely Grand Theft Auto IV, Street Fighter IV, Left 4 Dead, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed and Saints Row 2. Microsoft's announcement (oh so conveniently) neglected to mention prices for any of the titles, but a quick check around the ol' internet points to a price of $29.99 for most of the new additions (though SFIV curiously seems pegged around $40 for the moment).

We should also point out that while these are some legitimately great games, both SFIV and Force Unleashed are receiving upgraded, budget versions in the near future -- Ultimate Sith Edition later this year and Super Street Fighter IV in early 2010. It's also worth noting Left 4 Dead is receiving a full-blown sequel only a month from now.

Microsoft has also announced that retailers will be offering a "Buy 2, Get 1 Free" promotion for Xbox 360 Platinum Hits through October 31, though the release makes no mention of which retailers are doing so. We've contacted Microsoft for more information on the promotion.

It looks as though two more will join PS3's esteemed Greatest Hits lineup. GameStop has recently dropped the price of both Smackdown vs RAW 2009 and Saints Row 2 to the standard Greatest Hits price of $29.99. The addition of these two titles will boost the number of PS3 Greatest Hits games to over 20.

[Via Kotaku]

Source - Smackdown vs RAW 2009
Source - Saints Row 2

Over the past few months, we've come to rely on Saints Row 2's bizarre, Gary Busey-centric advertising campaign as a source of humor and, more importantly, spiritual renewal.

As a final farewell, Busey is promoting the free "UnKut" DLC from the game in a new video. Gary has used his laser-like vision to peer into your soul ... and his reaction to what he found there? Well, we don't think you're going to like it, let's just leave it at that.

Oh well, the DLC is free, just how much persuasion do you need?

Those of you looking to bling out your Saint's Row 2 characters with a bevvy of fancy new accoutrement need wait no longer, as Volition just released "The Unkut Pack" of free DLC this week. Virtual ganstas are now able to choose from "62 unique customization options" with "The Unkut Pack," though those of you without Gold acounts on Xbox Live won't be able to participate without ponying up for an upgraded membership, as the DLC is Gold member exclusive.

Peep the example gallery below for a few shots of the new duds, tats and "bigass chains," and check out the game's website for a full list of everything, if you're into that kind of thing. And revel in it, 'cause according to Volition, this is the "third and final DLC Pack for Saints Row 2." Saint's Row 3, anyone?

When playing Saints Row or Red Faction, did you ever wish you could smash up buildings or conduct drive-by shootings with a porn star while waggling a Wiimote? Even if you answered "no" to that question, developer Volition says it may one day be possible. During the Red Faction: Guerrilla launch event in New York City last night (held at the red planet-themed tourist trap/night club known as Mars 2112), we asked senior associate producer Jeff Carroll if the THQ-owned studio ever considered making Wii versions of their popular franchises.

"Though [THQ] may do Wii versions of [our games] in the future, Volition won't be doing them -- at least for the next year or so," Carroll said.

"We actually talked about whether we were going to become a partial Wii developer," he explained. "Then we talked it over with THQ and they had enough studios that were going to be Wii-specific. But we really wanted to focus on the technological advances [in console development], especially for Red Faction Guerrilla."

When asked if these Wii titles were in the works, he replied that he didn't know but that they were "within the realm of possibility."

The real question is: Will Gary Busey be involved? For insanity's sake, we hope so.

In the world of Saint's Row 2, the Ultor Corporation isn't looking for a massive government bailout -- it has an internal "civil war" to deal with. "Corporate Warfare," the second DLC offering for THQ and Volition's open-world crime game, hits Thursday, May 28, bringing a new mission and multiplayer maps, more vehicles, expanded customization options and additional Achievements (for Xbox 360). Also: corporate warfare. Who'd have thunk?

The pack will set purchasers back 560 ($7) for 360 and $7 in non- space-money for PS3. Check out the gallery below for a glimpse of what awaits down on the 'Row.

We have good, bad and ugly news today. First: the bad news, and any Stilwater 2.0 regulars should pay close attention because their plans for a return trip may have to wait. According to the game's official blog, the first DLC package for Saints Row 2 has been pushed back a week to April 23.

The good news is that gamers will also receive new character clothing with the DLC, which is already set to include new missions, pornstar assistance and the four maps shown in the gallery below. Oh, and the ugly news? Giant bunnies have been spotted near town and are poised for an attack. You should probably run for your lives.

[Thanks, TheDarkWayne]

New content is set to pull up alongside Saints Row 2, flashing gang signs and a new set of platinum rims. Developer Volition revealed that it is working on three new downloadable packs for the game, with the first, Ultor Exposed, set to arrive April 16 on both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 for 800 Microsoft Points or $10.

Players expecting something comparable to last month's Lost and the Damned, however, will need to seek the comfort of fellow gangstas after learning that this initial pack adds just three new missions, a competitive co-op "metagame" and porn star Tera Patrick as a homie to watch your back. Some new vehicles, weapons and maps are also promised. Still, compared to last month's GTA IV update, this downloadable comes off as lacking, but at just a tenner at least you won't have to sell your real gold grills to play.

THQ's wild swings have finally brought the axe down on Red Faction and Saints Row creator Volition, reportedly culling the bulk of the Champaign, IL studio's QA staff out from the developer's ranks. Speaking with Kotaku, a THQ spokesperson confirmed that Volition lost 86 employees in the cut, including 47 temporary workers and 39 full-time staff.

The numbers represent the lion's share of the QA department's 102 employees, with quality assurance duties now "primarily" falling to "THQ's centralized QA facilities, with a small staff remaining on-site in Champaign," according to a THQ statement. The layoffs are part of THQ's larger move to eliminate nearly a quarter of its jobs in an effort to cut costs and keep analyst bankruptcy predictions from coming true.

Update: THQ's Julie MacMedan chimed in this afternoon to clear the air as well as any confusion regarding these layoffs, which according to the corporate communications VP only affected the publisher's QA facility in Champaign, IL and left Volition's "core development teams" untouched.

"This will result in the eventual closure of the facility with a transfer of sixteen employees to Volition," wrote MacMedan in an email statement. "It will not result in any layoffs within the core development teams at Volition. Volition remains a key development studio within THQ and will continue to employ 236 staff."

Confirming earlier information, she added: "The layoffs include 47 temporary employees who will not be having their service extended. Unfortunately, fluctuating headcount among the temporary staff is common based on when our games ship. In addition, 39 full-time staff will be laid off."

In conclusion, and in a refreshing change of pace to these sorts of reductions, MacMedan wrote: "All laid off employees (both full-time and temporary) will be given at least sixty days' notice. We will do what we can to assist them in finding work in the community or elsewhere in THQ."

If you're a fan of sandboxes, then we suggest you go to the local playground and stop reading this blog. If you're a fan of sandbox games, however, keep reading! Amazon.com's Deal of the Day features Saints Row 2 Collector's Edition for a mere $35 (shipping included). The deal applies to both the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game. We need not remind you that this spectacular offer would net you $25 and a penny in savings toward those real gold grills you've been pining for.

[Via Slickdeals]

According to the analysts at Cowen and Company, several of THQ's key franchises – think WWE, SpongeBob SquarePants and Saints Row – are in a slump. GI.biz details the firm's findings and all signs point to the publisher posting a "substantial" loss this fiscal year.

The firm states that the 22% Q4 year-over-year decline of the WWE franchise, which it calls one of the last "bastions of strength" at the publisher, is of particular concern, while poor little SpongeBob saw a 19% decline over the prior year. Saints Row 2 also isn't doing too hot, with the firm expecting the gangsta-fied sandbox title to move just 900K units over the next year in the US. Though the original Saints Row performed better on a single console, 2006 also had a very different software landscape (read: Grand Theft Auto IV wasn't out yet). Let's see if this holiday season changes THQ's plans to focus on a few "core" titles yearly.

Amazon has sent us over this preview of its "15 Days, 15 Video Games Deal" series for the weekend and Monday:

• Saturday, 13 Dec: World of Warcraft Battlechest is the headliner. If the past days are any indication, the other deals for Saturday will be somewhat related.
• Sunday, 14 Dec: Kickoff of a special deal on Ubisoft's successful (no, really) Petz, Imagine and Ener-G titles.
• Monday, 15 Dec: Saints Row 2 is the headliner.
  

Additionally, on Thursday, December 18, Amazon's Goldbox deal will be PlayStation 3-centric. We'll have the Lightning Deal clues for you before then.

Saints Row 2 developer Volition has confirmed on the game's forums that the well-received gangsta epic will make its way to PC on Jan. 6, 2009. The PC version of the game was originally expected to release with the console versions, but after that didn't happen, several retailers listed the game with a 2009 release date, which is confirmed to be the case now.

The company explains the reason for the delay is that the PC version is a port from the consoles, which is being done by an external company and requires more time. Volition reassures that it is fully involved in this external port and that all the little differences between consoles and PCs is what's taking the extra time.

[Via Big Download]

Saints Row 2 Associate Producer Dan Sutton reveals that Volition is already at work on another sequel in the urban sandbox series. Speaking with Play.tm, Sutton states that the recently released SR2 ties up loose ends from the original game and that SR3 will go in a "new direction."

Considering that Saints Row 2 stands apart from Grand Theft Auto IV in how over-the-top it is, we certainly hope Saints Row's new direction isn't about toning down the series.

Best Buy is giving out a free beanie hat with purchase of Guitar Hero World Tour, selling Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway for $40 and offering Blitz II for $50. Target stores only have one good deal and that's a free $25 gift card with purchase of an Xbox 360 Arcade console. Circuit City is dishing out the gift cards (as has become the norm), giving away a free $10 gift card with purchase of Fable II, Golden Axe, Far Cry 2, Dead Space, Saints Row 2, and Hell's Highway. You can score a free $10 gift card and mini strategy guide with purchase of Fallout 3 (CE), a free $15 iTunes gift card with purchase of Guitar Hero World Tour and a free t-shirt with Legendary. Phew ... happy shopping!