Enter the Dominatrix
A self-referential DLC pack exploring an alternate Zin invasion.
Enter the Dominatrix is a downloadable content pack for the 2013 video game Saints Row IV. It presents an alternate story of the alien Zin invasion, with dialogue that frequently breaks the fourth wall and a self-referential style. The pack is notable for drawing on its history as originally produced as downloadable content for Saints Row: The Third, before being cancelled and partially incorporated into Saints Row IV, with the remaining content released as this story pack.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Enter the Dominatrix
- Developer
- Volition
- Publisher
- Deep Silver
- Series
- Saints Row
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows / PlayStation 3 / PlayStation 4 / Xbox 360 / Xbox One / Linux / Nintendo Switch
- Genre
- Action-adventure
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
THQ announced Enter the Dominatrix as an April Fool's joke in 2012, then confirmed it as a standalone expansion for Saints Row: The Third. It was later cancelled and incorporated into Saints Row IV, with unused parts released as this DLC. The pack was developed by Volition, published by Deep Silver, and released on October 22, 2013. It was followed by the 'How the Saints Saved Christmas' DLC. High Voltage Software ported Saints Row IV and all its DLC, including Enter the Dominatrix, to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as Saints Row IV: Re-Elected in January 2015, with a Linux port later that year.
Reader's Guide
Enter the Dominatrix is significant for its unusual development history and its self-referential treatment of that history. Originally announced as an April Fool's joke, then confirmed, then cancelled to be folded into Saints Row IV, the pack represents a rare instance of a developer releasing 'shelved' content as a finished product. Critics appreciated the pack's treatment of its own history, with Eurogamer's Chris Schilling calling it a 'very postmodern conceit'. The pack's narrative openly acknowledges its plot holes and incongruence with the larger Saints Row story, breaking the fourth wall repeatedly. Electronic Gaming Monthly's Eric Patterson noted that the DLC flips the common industry perception of downloadable content as cut retail content, and found the experience 'fascinating'. While the pack received mixed or average reviews, with some critics noting its low-budget feel and lack of content for cost-conscious players, it was praised for its genuine humor and behind-the-scenes aspects. Its legacy includes being part of the Saints Row IV: Re-Elected compilation, which brought the game and its DLC to later console generations.
Did You Know?
- Enter the Dominatrix was first announced on April Fool's Day in 2012 as a joke, then confirmed as real the next month.
- The pack includes cutscene clips presented as 'unseen footage' found by television journalist Jane Valderama.
- The Dominatrix appears as a cross between Maleficent and a sex worker.
- The pack was followed by the 'How the Saints Saved Christmas' downloadable content pack.
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