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Like Saints Row 3's Initiation Station, The Saints Row 4: Inauguration Station will allow players to customize their Commander in Chief on PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 before that game's launch on August 20.

It's available today on Xbox 360, tomorrow on PC and August 13 on PS3, so let your imagination run wild about who will be leader of the free world that saves us from the mundane concepts of politics and brings the fight to the alien threat.

Saints Row 4 was finally deemed acceptable to be sold in Australia today, having previously been denied classification twice by the territory's ratings board. The listing isn't currently on the Australian Classification Board's site, but publisher Deep Silver provided us with a statement confirming a reworked version of the game earned, in a curious twist, the MA15+ rating rather than the adult-only R18+ rating it failed to achieve previously.

Deep Silver said developer Volition removed one 20-minute mission in the reworked version, and noted the 'Rectifier' anal probe weapon, which the ACB also raised concern over, will be available in a DLC pack "as originally intended." Deep Silver's statement reads: Deep Silver and [local distributor] AIE are pleased to report that the Australian Classification Board has now approved Saints Row IV for sale. They have granted the game a MA15+ rating. To achieve this rating one loyalty mission featuring the character Shaundi has been removed. This mission has been widely reported on and contains the use of alien narcotics to obtain certain superpowers. This mission represents approximately 20 minutes of gameplay out of the hours available to purchasers. The removal of this mission has no negative impact on the story or the superpowers and will not detract from the enjoyment players will get from their Saints Row IV experience. The rectifier weapon will be available as part of a DLC package as originally intended. Deep Silver respects this decision and thanks the Australian Classification Board for their assistance with this matter. Back in June, Volition's over-the-top sandbox adventure became the first game to be refused classification by the ACB following the long-lobbied-for introduction of the R18+ rating. Deep Silver requested the ACB re-review the decision, which the rating board did last week when it once again denied the game classification.

Today's news means the saga is finally at an end, and the game can and will be sold in the Australian territory; Deep Silver confirmed to Joystiq the Australian release date remains August 22. Elsewhere, The Xbox 360, PS3, PC game comes to North America on August 20, and Europe on August 23.

The Australian Classification Board reaffirmed the ban on Saints Row 4, a three-person panel unanimously refusing the game classification in its re-review of the original decision. Drugs were again the cause of consternation for the ACB, who said Volition's over-the-top sandbox game couldn't attain the recently introduced R18+ rating and as such be sold in the country because "drug use related to incentives and rewards is not permitted."

On January 1, Australia passed the much-lobbied-for law permitting games for audiences over the age of 15 to be bought in the country, these games carrying a R18+ rating. Many games have since earned the rating, including Ninja Gaiden 3 and Dead Island: Riptide, but in June Saints Row 4 became the first game to be refused classification since the law's introduction. It was soon followed by XBLA hit State of Decay, although unlike Saints Row 4 that game has since been rated R18+.

Saints Row 4 is expected to launch in Australia on August 23, the Steam page listing a "Low Violence" version; publisher Deep Silver told us in June it had plans to submit a reworked version of the game for the territory. We've reached out to Deep Silver for comment.

The Australian Classification Board reaffirmed the ban on Saints Row 4, a three-person panel unanimously refusing the game classification in its re-review of the original decision. Drugs were again the cause of consternation for the ACB, who said the Volition's over-the-top sandbox game couldn't attain the recently introduced R18+ rating and as such be sold in the country because "drug use related to incentives and rewards is not permitted."

On January 1, Australia passed the much-lobbied-for law permitting games for audiences over the age of 15 to be bought in the country, these games carrying a R18+ rating. Many games have since earned the rating, including Ninja Gaiden 3 and Dead Island: Riptide, but in June Saints Row 4 became the first game to be refused classification since the law's introduction. It was soon followed by XBLA hit State of Decay, although unlike Saints Row 4 that game has since been rated R18+.

Saints Row 4 is expected to launch in Australia on August 23, the Steam page listing a "Low Violence" version; publisher Deep Silver told us in June it had plans to submit a reworked version of the game for the territory. We've reached out to Deep Silver for comment.

The Australian Classification Board banned Saints Row 4 for a second time today, a three-person panel unanimously refusing the game classification in its re-review. Drugs were again the cause of consternation for the ACB, who said the Volition's over-the-top sandbox game couldn't attain the recently introduced R18+ rating and as such be sold in the country because "drug use related to incentives and rewards is not permitted."

On January 1, Australia passed the much-lobbied-for law permitting games for audiences over the age of 15 to be bought in the country, these games carrying a R18+ rating. Many games have since earned the rating, including Ninja Gaiden 3 and Dead Island: Riptide, but in June Saints Row 4 became the first game to be refused classification since the law's introduction. It was soon followed by XBLA hit State of Decay, although unlike Saints Row 4 that game has since passed its re-review.

Saints Row 4 was expected to launch in Australia on August 23, but given the month or so between the first ban and re-review, it making that date seems unlikely. We've reached out to publisher Deep Silver for comment, and to ask if there are plans to resubmit the game for classification again.

Saints Row 4 has added another special edition to its pre-order lineup with the "Game of the Generation Edition."

The GotGE edition includes everything found in the $99 "Wub Wub" edition, but this $130 package also adds in - and we swear we checked with publisher Deep Silver to make sure we weren't being punked - a light-up rotating display case for the game and a velvet pouch to keep everything safe for posterity.

Normally we'd berate such a ludicrous collector's edition, but this is Saints Row we're talking about and it can go full-out crazy in context. Heck, they could charge $200 for an edition that ships with a giant, purple weaponized phallus and we'd have to say, "Fair play!" Come to think of it, that's not a terrible idea ...

Saints Row 4 will feature a season pass for downloadable content, publisher Deep Silver has announced. The season pass will be available for $9.99 (€9.99 / £7.99) and will grant access to two mission packs, including a "Director's Cut" of the Enter the Dominatrix DLC, which is "a tongue-in-cheek vision of what this content was originally going to be like." At a recent Comic-Con panel, developer Volition said the DLC would involve the characters explaining why the content was cut from the game. The second mission pack will arrive in late 2013.

The season pass also includes an exclusive weapon, the "Rectifier." Yes, it's an anal probe. Saints Row 4 invades your personal space on August 20.

During a panel at Comic-Con, developer Volition revealed that the first piece of Saints Row 4 DLC will be "Enter the Dominatrix," and it will arrive 45 days after the game's August 20 launch, reports Game Informer. The DLC, originally planned as a standalone expansion to Saints Row The Third, will be taking a unique approach. It will be framed as a behind-the-scenes feature, during which the characters will explain why the content never made it into the full game.

We're not sure that's the best framing device because, as far as we can tell, Volition never cuts anything from Saints Row games.

Saints Row 4's down under scrutiny will occur again next week, as the over-the-top sandbox crime game attempts a second run by the Australian Classification Board. The ACB banned the game last month, raising issues over its depiction of drug use and an "alien anal probe."

Publisher Deep Silver previously said it was planning to re-submit a re-worked version of the game - apparently a "low violence" one going by Steam Australia. That re-review is now confirmed and dated for this time next week on July 29, and hopefully it's a decision that leaves both parties satisfied.

Saints Row 4 was the first to be banned in the country after the government passed the law permitting R18+ games for adult audiences. The second game, banned a day after Saints Row 4, was State of Decay. Thankfully, Undead Labs' own reworked version came through its re-review earlier this month, and the developer expects to bring the XBLA game Australia's way on Friday, July 26.

Saints Row 4's down under scrutiny will occur again next week, as the over-the-top sandbox crime game attempts a second run by the Australian Classification Board. The ACB banned the game last month, raising issues over its depiction of drug use and an "alien anal probe."

Publisher Deep Silver previously said it was planning to re-submit a re-worked version of the game - apparently a "low violence" one going by Steam Australia. That re-review is now confirmed and dated for this time next week on July 29, and hopefully it's a decision that leaves both parties satisfied.

Saints Row 4 was the first to be banned in the country after the government passed the law permitting R18+ games for adult audiences. The second game, banned a day after Saints Row 4, was State of Decay. Thankfully, Undead Labs' own reworked version came through its re-review earlier this month, and the developer expects to bring the XBLA game Australia's way on Friday, July 26.

Johnny Gat - voiced by Daniel Dae Kim (Lost, Hawaii Five-O) - returns from the life beyond in Saints Row 4. He now holds doors for old ladies and no longer slurps his soup. Hahaha, no, he's still a trigger-happy sociopath. Death doesn't change Johnny Gat.

Memories of its time under the command of THQ linger while playing Saints Row 4. Featuring content that was once slated to launch as a premium DLC expansion for Saints Row: The Third, the latest game from Volition was transitioned to a full retail product by its former, financially unstable publisher.

THQ has since disappeared and publisher Deep Silver lords over the dildo waving, running into traffic, beautiful monster franchise known as Saints Row. But for the first time, a new Saints Row game hasn't seen a significant boost in terms of technology or mechanics. The game, on those levels, picks up exactly where it left off ... it's only crazier.

Though it borrows ideas from movies like The Matrix and games like Crackdown and Prototype to inject alternative worlds and superhuman abilities into the mix, Saints Row 4 feels like the DLC we didn't get that's wrapped, at least in the beginning, around a tired alien invasion story.

Our time with the game was short, so those feelings may dissipate once the entire experience is in our hands. The Saints Row 4 preview build moves quickly from the leader of the Third Street Saints saving America to running it as President. Soon after the alien Zin Empire, led by the soft-spoken Zinyak, invade the planet and capture POTUS. The demo ends as POTUS and his crew make their escape from Zin's otherworldly clutches.

Despite initial impressions, Saints Row 4 had me howling. As President, you're offered to choose one of two major issues to solve immediately, cure cancer or stop hunger - or as the game asks: "F**k cancer, or let them eat cake?" In a more subtle joke, the game lists Nolan North, by name, in the options menu under "Character Voice" alongside generic choices like Man and Woman one through three. And then there's the glorious dubstep gun. For more, watch the video preview above.

Saints Row 4 is still the same hilarious shit-show of anarchy that we've come to expect ... nay, demand.

In this f-bomb dropping, NSFW trailer for Saints Row 4, the game celebrates its independence. Its independence from being compared to that other grand theft title first two games tried to clone, independence from THQ and independence from independence. Yeah, why not!

Oh, yes it did. And Volition made Captain Anderson say a whole bunch more, too. You're gonna want to see and hear this, but not in the office/on public transportation/at daycare/your probation hearing. Keith David stars, This-is-the-End style, as Keith David, vice president of whatever the *crag* it is America has become in Saints Row 4. That's not it's biggest problem, of course; repelling this alien invasion with dubstep and dick-kicks is higher on the day's agenda. To do that, Vice President The Arbiter must rally the nation to the cause. What more appropriate time for this speech than Independence Day? I rate this somewhat lower than Churchillian but definitely higher than Pullmanian. It's good to hear Barricade loosen up a little, not having to spout Orwellian crap about global forces for good, and giving it to us straight: We have to free the whole *crag*in' planet, after all. To contact the author of this post, write to owen@kotaku.com or find him on Twitter @owengood.

For those who weren't at E3, here is the walk-and-talk through of Saints Row 4's behind-closed-doors presentation. It starts off with a Sorkinian West Wing opening and gets playfully ludicrous from there.

Your guide on this journey is Jim Boone, senior producer of the game, who shows off the game's new alien threat, the Blackhole Launcher and some of the new player superpowers. We always knew there were nukes under the White House, but who knew about the double-cannon flak guns?

Preordering the game - along with previously mentioned bonuses - will also net costumes The Iron Rogue and Queen Amazonia. Just gonna skirt that similarity lawsuit.

It was revealed yesterday that Saints Row IV had been refused classification in Australia due to interactive, visual depictions of implied sexual violence which are not justified by context and illicit drug use related to incentives or rewards. Such depictions are prohibited under the guidelines.

Runaway (and "Run away!") hit State of Decay has been refused classification in Australia. And here you thought these stories were done.

"We've run afoul of certain prohibitions regarding the depiction of drug use," writes Undead Labs' founder Jeff Strain on the game's forum. "We're working with [publisher] Microsoft to come up with options, including changing names of certain medications in the game to comply with ratings requirements. Whatever our path forward, it's going to take a bit."

Coincidentally, the apocalyptic world of Fallout 3 ran into the same drug-naming issue with the Australians back in 2008. After some editing, the game was suitable for distribution.

"Microsoft is currently evaluating the options with regards to the title's classification," a spokesperson for the publisher told Joystiq. "The Australian Classification system plays an important role in ensuring that Australians can only access age-appropriate games and content."

Strain acknowledged as much in his post, saying, "I know this is frustrating - believe me, we're frustrated too - but each country has the right to set its own rules about content, and it's our responsibility to comply with them. Rest assured we'll do everything we can to find a way to get the game into your hands."

The Australian Classification Board made Saints Row 4 the first game to be refused classification in the country since the introduction of the R18+ rating at the start of the year. In a statement released this morning, the ACB said it classified the game "RC (Refused Classification)" in accordance with the new guidelines. Publisher Deep Silver told us developer Volition is reworking the game's content for the territory.

"In the Board's opinion, Saints Row IV, includes interactive, visual depictions of implied sexual violence which are not justified by context," reads the ACB's statement. "In addition, the game includes elements of illicit or proscribed drug use related to incentives or rewards. Such depictions are prohibited by the computer games guidelines."

Following the news, Deep Silver provided Joystiq with the following statement. "Deep Silver can confirm that Saints Row IV was denied an age classification in Australia. Volition, the developer, are reworking some of the code to create a version of the game for this territory by removing the content which could cause offence without reducing the outlandish gameplay that Saints Row fans know and love. Saints Row IV has been awarded PEGI 18 and ESRB M ratings where fans can enjoy their time in Steelport as originally intended." After many years of pressure due to a number of high-profile games being banned in the country, the Australian government finally passed the law last year allowing games intended for those over the age of 15 to be bought in the country, and that law came into effect this year on January 1. In today's statement, the ACB noted it's classified 17 games under the R18+ rating so far, with those 17 including Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition, Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge, and Dead Island: Riptide.

Saints Row 4 is set to arrive in North America on August 20, and Europe on August 23.

Up until now, Saints Row: The Third modders have had to rely on community-created tools to make Volition's game even more lively. Jeff Thompson, Volition's studio director of programming, is currently preparing official engine tools to share with the mod community, prominent modder IdolNinja explains in this blog post.

In addition to Saints Row: The Third documentation, Thompson is preparing official Saints Row 2 tools - something IdolNinja explains is a "test run" for Saints Row 4. "In simple terms, the modding community will finally be able to create and offer new clothing, new vehicles, new guns, new npcs, new missions, and even new world geometry which will greatly extend the life of the series and enhance the Saints Row games in ways we never even dared to dream of," IdolNinja explains.

IdolNinja concludes that Thompson is expected to send something along this week, though there's no indication if that'll be the Volition mod tools or just the first steps in making that happen.

When Saints Row: The Third was still in development, we talked about it as "a dinner of doughnuts." The first mission in the game was just as stimulating and over-the-top as the last mission of your average Grand Theft Auto game. But if Saints Row 3 starts on the last mission of other sandbox games, then Saints Row 4 picks up even later than that: in the end credits.

When Saints Row 4 begins, you are no less than the leader of the free world, and your first walk through the White House (complete with scantily dressed staffers and chained-up pet tigers) is like a congratulations for a job well done. You get to choose between making healthcare free or ending the deficit, you get re-introduced to a bunch of familiar faces from the series (who now all have cabinet-level positions in your administration), and the biggest prize of all is that you're on a first-name basis with your Vice President, Keith David (yes, the Keith David, brilliantly playing himself). Starting Saints Row 4 feels like you've just finished a long journey, and you've won the day once and for all.

And that's when the aliens show up to kidnap your friends. You order the turrets raised from underneath the South Lawn, you get in a fistfight with the alien overlord, and - oh - you get superpowers.

Saints Row 4 is being shown at E3 and if there's anything those rascally Saints know how to do it's self promotion. These two thespians of marketing pictured were seen on the show floor promoting Saints Flow, the energy drink available at your local Steelport convenience store and Planet Saints.

Saving humanity is serious business. Like, super serious. And the Saints know how to give the situation the gravitas it deserves in this Saints Row 4 trailer.

Deep Silver is embracing the lack of restraint found in the Saints Row series with a "Super Dangerous Wub Wub" edition at retail for the fourth installment of the game. The highlight of the over-the-top package is a 12-inch Dub Step gun replica, featuring laser sight and the most dangerous wubs the world has even known when you pull the trigger.

Also included in the package is a 8-inch Johnny Gat Memorial Statue, Dubstep Doomsday Button and in-game items like the Screaming Eagle VTOL, Uncle Sam uniform and 'Merica gun.

The Super Dangerous Wub Wub edition is available for pre-order now and is $99.99 (£89.99) while supplies last. Saints Row 4 gets presidential at retail on August 20 in the 'Mericas, August 23 in the not-'Mericas.

The countless hours of discerning thought put into all those dumb, mindless “top 10 videogame gun” lists have just been rendered pointless. Wanna know why? Because DUBSTEP GUN. It is the most sublimely ridiculous thing I’ve seen in ages – pretty much since, er, the entirety of Saints Row: The Third. People struck by its sledgehammer-like beats fall into a state of physics-defying slow-mo undulation, equal parts stylishly modern and grotesquely unnatural. It is, in other words, a thing of the purest beauty. Oh, and it’s just the focus of this Saints Row IV video’s first couple minutes. A preview of the remaining five: “We decided that Saints Row needs a mech.”

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Here's Saints Row 4 doing what it does: being crazy. Watch the president (that'll be you) being a person of action, not words. Who's got time for diplomacy? Hail to the chief on August 20.

Publisher Deep Silver - new owner of the Volition-developed Saints Row series - has announced that Saints Row 4 is getting a special "Commander in Chief" edition, available for free to everyone who pre-orders the upcoming game.

Earning the special edition content means you'll get a snazzy Uncle Sam outfit, a "Screaming Eagle" jet, and a "'Merica weapon," which boasts flamethrowers, "dub step guns," and rocket launchers.

Saints Row 4 will see the Third Street Saints voted into presidential office on August 20 in North and Latin America, and August 23 in other regions.

Publisher Deep Silver - the proud new parents of the Volition-developed Saints Row series - has announced that Saints Row 4 is getting a special "Commander in Chief" edition, available for free to everyone who pre-orders the upcoming game.

Earning the special edition content means you'll get a snazzy Uncle Sam outfit, a "Screaming Eagle" missile-shooting jet, and a "'Merica weapon," armed with flamethrowers, "dub step guns," and rocket launchers all attached.

Saints Row 4 will see the Third Street Saints voted into presidential office on August 20 in North and Latin America, and August 23 worldwide.

The IGN Team picks their biggest surprise and favorite games of PAX East 2013. What will they choose?

Volition explained to us at PAX East today that Saints Row 4 isn't "Saints Row 3.5" nor the canceled Saints Row: The Third standalone expansion "Enter the Dominatrix" in a different package. The team told us that work began on Saints Row 4 about two months before The Third finished, with another team split to do Dominatrix.

"We had to go in and totally gut the [Dominatrix] story for Saints Row 4. Everything that was the missions or the story we did for Dominatrix was totally thrown out," Steve Jaros, creative director at Volition told us. "All the voice recording that we did all thrown out. We redid the entire story. The game is mission wise the same length as Saints Row 3, plus other open worlds on top of it."

Senior Producer Jim Boone told us that in June last year, shortly after Jason Rubin took on his short-lived role as president at THQ, the agreement was made between Rubin and Volition to combine the games and focus the team on one full project.

"Everyone on the team had the same concern, we didn't want to make a 3.5, we aren't making an expansion pack. What we put out to the world has to be worthy of the name Saints Row 4. I really think everyone on the team will stand behind it," added Jaros. "So much stuff has been changed and thrown out. Even the best of the [Dominatrix] stuff that we liked and pulled into the game we still changed. Nothing was drag and dropped in."

Saints Row 4 will launch on August 20, featuring weapon customization, mechs, a new alien enemy and a... dub-step gun.

Remember when Deep Silver’s Dead Island Riptide “Zombie Bait Edition” torso statue came out and we were mostly all like, okay weird gross statue of a bikinied lady who has been brutally dismembered, but honestly, where is my dismembered bloody man crotch in Calvin Kleins? Oh that was only me then. (It is odd being a woman in this industry sometimes.) Well, I guess Deep Silver were slightly burnt by the expressions of disgust we all had. Now they are giving us the chance to vote for a whole host of weird Saints Row IV Collector’s Edition stuff.(more…)