After the events of Saints Row 2 the 3rd Street Saints have turned into a media empire, becoming a household name, with their own TV shows, energy drink, toys and planning on making a movie. The Boss, Shaundi and Gat prepare for the movie by robing a bank with Josh Birk, an actor who is to play a Saints' member, things don't go as planned after Josh trips an alarm and meet a lot of police resistance, after which the Saints end up in jail.
Their time in the big house is cut short when they are bailed out by the leader, Phillipe Loren, of an international crime syndicate, called the Syndicate(originality is not their strong point). Who also gives them a free plane ride and an offer they can't refuse, give up 66% of their profits to the Syndicate. Of course, being the 3rd Street Saints they do refuse, after several gunfights and some free-falling the Boss and Shaundi end up in Steelport, while Gat ends up dead.
As luck would have it, Steelport is where the Syndicate is located. The city is split up between three gangs: Morningstar, of which Loren is leader, along with his enforcers the DeWynter sisters Viola and Kiki; the Luchadores, a gang with a Mexican wrestling theme, controlled by Killbane; and the Deckers, whose leader is computer expert Matt Miller.
The leader of the Saints is angered by Gat's death and plans revenge on the Syndicate. After "borrowing" some military grade hardware, and meeting up with Pierce Washington, second-in-command of the Saints, they start attacking Loren's operations. Culminating with an attack on Syndicate Tower, Loren's headquarters, its the tallest tower in the city, you can't miss it. During the attack the Saints rescue Oleg Kirrlov,
