Saints Row: The Third downloadable content

Downloadable content for Saints Row: The Third was announced before the game's release,[1] and has included additional story missions, weapons, and characters.[2] The game's publisher, THQ, pledged "40 weeks" of downloadable content following the game's launch on November 15, 2011.[1][3] A season pass offered a discount on the total cost of three downloadable content packs—Genkibowl VII, Gangstas in Space, and The Trouble with Clones—all scheduled for release by Q2 2012, and added the Nyte Blade vampire hunter content as a bonus.[4][5]

A full release containing all downloadable content with the original game, Saints Row: The Third – The Full Package, was announced in September 2012 for release two months later on PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. The package included all three mission packs ("Genkibowl VII", "Gangstas in Space", and "The Trouble with Clones") as well as the add-on clothes, vehicles, and weapons.[6] It was released on November 6, 2012 in North America, and ten days later internationally.[7]

THQ announced an Enter the Dominatrix standalone expansion to the game as an April Fools' Day prank in 2012.[8] It was confirmed as in development the next month. In Enter the Dominatrix, the alien commander Zinyak imprisons the Saints' leader in a simulation of Steelport called The Dominatrix so as to prevent interference when he takes over the planet. The expansion also added superpowers for the player-character.[9] In June, THQ said the expansion would be wrapped into a full sequel, tentatively titled "The Next Great Sequel in the Saints Row Franchise" and scheduled for a 2013 release.[10] Parts of Enter the Dominatrix that weren't incorporated into the sequel, Saints Row IV, were later released as Enter the Dominatrix downloadable content for the new title.[11][12]

Genkibowl VII was the first downloadable mission pack of three to be released for Saints Row: The Third.[13] The pack is structured around a contest with four different activities structured around a Professor Genki theme. Genki is a "homicidal man-cat" whose Super Ethical Reality Climax competitions are popular in Steelport, and the leader of the Saints is invited to participate in his annual Genkibowl. Zach and Bobby, the commentators associated with Professor Genki's shows, return to cover the competition[14] with Tammy Tolliver.[15]

Three of the four activities are "revamped versions" of other activities from the main game. Genki Apocalypse is a shooting minigame similar to the main game's Super Ethical Reality Climax, where the player travels through rooms shooting enemies and targets (such as Ethical and Money Shot targets) to earn money. Accidentally shooting the Sad Panda targets reduces the player's earnings. Unlike Super Ethical Reality Climax, Genki Apocalypse has a jungle theme, including shark-infested waters. The second activity, Super Ethical PR Opportunity, is based on the main game's Escort minigames, but the player instead escorts Professor Genki himself.[13] The Genki Mobile car features flamethrowers around its periphery, for when Genki demands carnage en route.[14] The car is unlocked upon finishing the activity. The third activity, Sexy Kitten Yarngasm, is a cross between the main game's Tank Mayhem activity and the Katamari series where the player rolls a destructive ball of yarn around the streets.[13] The player must destroy a certain amount of property within a time limit. Upon completing the activity, the player unlocks Yarnie (the ball of yarn) as a vehicle.[14] In the last activity, the new Sad Panda Skyblazing, the player dons a Sad Panda costume and jumps from a helicopter, falling through fire rings into Ethical balloons and onto rooftops to kill costumed mascots with a chainsaw. There are two instances of each activity on the map, and finishing each activity unlocks new costumes, support characters, and vehicles. The pack was released three months following the game,[13] on January 17, 2012.[15]

A month later, Gangstas in Space was released. In three missions, players continue the Saints Row: The Third story in a new arc about the Gangstas in Space film referenced in the main story. In the game, the film about the Saints is being directed by the self-interested Hollywood director Andy Zhen and the player is acting the final scenes of the film alongside a female co-star making her debut. In the first level, the player fights the military to save a female alien and controls the turret on the getaway vehicle. In the second, the player is in a shootout in a linear map. The last mission has the player in an aircraft fighting other aircraft while the co-star uploads viruses to transmitters. At the time of review, the player could not revisit the old missions to earn missed achievements,[22] but was later patched.[23] Costumes and vehicles are unlocked upon completing the pack.[24] The pack was released in North America on February 21, 2012, and in Europe the next day.[25]

When Saints leader Johnny Gat died, Saints fan and stereotypical nerd[29] Jimmy Torbitson cloned him, beginning a three-mission series on capturing and quelling the superpowered clone,[30] who acts like the "brute" enemy type in the main game.[29] Torbitson narrates the missions like a superhero film.[30] The first mission has the player fighting off enemy gangs and police, and the second[23] involves a ploy to calm Gat with music while Torbitson dancing to distract Saints fans and the player tranquilizes the fans with a bee gun.[30] In the final mission, the player drinks Torbitson's Saints Flow, granting superpowers such as speed, strength, and fireballs,[23] and the player protects the clone Johnny Tag on a bridge from a military onslaught. Upon completion, the player unlocks two computer-controlled homies for support and a vehicle.[23] The missions can be replayed.[23] The pack was released March 20, 2012, halfway through THQ's promised 40 weeks of additional content.[31]

• The Nyte Blade pack includes a vampire hunter-themed sports car and motorcycle, and altar boy and "bloody canoness" costumes.[4][5]
• The Explosive Combat pack adds a "future soldier" costume and M2 grenade launcher, while the Z Style pack adds a "Z-style" suit and bling shotgun.[32]
• The Warrior pack adds four Kabuki costumes.[33] The Bloodsucker pack adds an ability to regenerate health by sucking the blood of non-playable characters, as well other ability upgrades.[34]
• The free CheapyD Homie pack adds computer-controlled support with a character modeled on CheapyD of Cheap Ass Gamer. He felt honored to be included, even if he "bought [his] way in".[35]
• A Penthouse pack includes support characters modeled on pornographic actresses Nikki Benz, Justine Joli, Ryan Keely, and Heather Vandeven.[36]