THQ cans Saints Row Drive By

It looks as if the once much discussed 3DS debut for gangsta series Saints Row has been cancelled.

THQ confirmed the news to Joystiq, saying: "We are not developing Saints Row: Drive By." No reasons were given for the decision.

Drive By was officially the title of the XBLA and PSN game, though THQ has previously intimated that it was being made in conjunction with the 3DS version.

If true, the news will also be a big blow for Nintendo. It was reported last June that the platform holder had pushed THQ to make the title as it was keen to try and shake the kid-orientated reputation that surrounds its portable machines.

Nintendo really wants to launch with a very balanced portfolio. They really don’t want it to feel like a kiddie platform. They were very clear: they really wanted Saints Row on it," THQ’s core games boss Danny Bilson said at the time.

I believe it will do great, especially if Nintendo is going to go mature and really do a big mature campaign on it. It’s a killer game.”

THQ had also planned some sort of cross-compatibility between the game, which was also due for Xbox Live and PSN, and its big console triple-A cousins on Xbox 360 and PS3.

The publisher has also confirmed that its Metro 2033 sequel, tentatively titled Metro: 2034, has been given a final name – Metro: Last Light.