The Y's

Lore & Background

Johnny Gat was named by Alvan Monje, a designer who worked on 2006's Saints Row, and who also came up with the name of the game and consequently the series it spawned. The character's name is based on the slang term for a firearm weapon, and is conceived as an archetype for 'crazy violent fun'. Doug Nelson, a designer and writer for the first game, was primarily responsible for developing the character's look and personality. Nelson's original image for Johnny Gat was of Jet Li.

Nelson wrote the initial framework of the first game's story. The first game's cast of characters were intentionally developed to be 'one-note' in personality. Gat was originally written to be a foil for Dex, another gang member who would approach things in a very systematic way. In Nelson's original scenario for the first Saints Row, the player would have up to four factions to contend with via a dedicated lieutenant who would assign missions relevant to that faction, with Gat serving as the lieutenant for the Vice Kings.

Aspects of Nelson's story framework were amended or removed entirely during development; because Gat's capture by the Vice Kings would restrict the player's access to undertake other gang missions until he is rescued, the character role in the aforementioned missions required adjustments by the developers. If the player does not prioritize Gat's rescue or is underprepared, Gat may be injured as a negative consequence.

Reader's Guide

In 2006's Saints Row, Johnny Gat is an established member of the Third Street Saints. Gat is assigned by the Saints' leader, Julius Little, to target operations run by the Vice Kings, one of Stilwater's three main criminal syndicates, during which he is aided by the player character. Their efforts include blowing up the Vice Kings' recording studio using a car full of C4, and faking the death of Aisha, Gat's girlfriend and a popular R&B singer working for the Kings. In one instance, Gat proves his loyalty to the player by helping them escape an ambush and allowing himself to be captured and tortured after sustaining a gunshot to his leg. The player subsequently rescues Gat, and the two wipe out the Vice Kings after reaching an agreement with the gang's leader, Benjamin King, to kill his traitorous successor.

Did You Know?

• Johnny Gat is voiced by Daniel Dae Kim for all appearances in the Saints Row series and its spin-off, Agents of Mayhem.
• Gat is the first crossover character to appear in an updated edition of the 2013 fighting game Divekick developed by Iron Galaxy.
• Johnny Gat appears as a playable character in Divekick, added via a free update in 2014. His special moves include the ability to call in cars, his Black Hole Launcher, and the Dubstep Gun.