Duke Nukem Forever is COMING and will be released soon (2011) on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC and is PLAYABLE at PAX Prime 2010, the expo going on as we speak!
*picks your brains up off the floor*
In what will definitely be marked down in history as one of the greatest megaton quickdraw “shock and awe” reveals of all time, the oft-rumored developer Gearbox Software confirmed at PAX 2010 that they have snagged the complete and full rights to Duke Nukem Forever and will be finishing a game that has been in development for over 13 years by failed studio 3D Realms. It will be published by 2K Games.
As you’d expect, it is a direct sequel to Duke Nukem 3D and will contain both a single player and online multiplayer mode!
Now for the real treat. GAMEPLAY FOOTAGE! Hold the trigger to piss!
Boss battle footage!
Although this isn’t a bonafide surprise, it’s still incredible that it is actually HAPPENING. Gearbox was revealed to have been working on another Duke game, called Duke Begins, before the whole 3D Realms ship went under. And it was oft-rumored and speculated that if anyone could actually finish and release Duke Nukem Forever, it’d be them.
“3d Realms didn’t quite make it and it cracked at the end. With Duke Nukem Forever in our hands, we’ve brought all those pieces together. It’s the game it was meant to be.” – Randy Pitchford, Gearbox Software
Things got even more likely in recent months and days. Going back to August, there were murmurings from some sources that Gearbox had been given the rights to finish development on the title. But obviously they were just rumors. However when Gearbox CEO and President Randy Pitchford was asked specifically about their ties to the project, he wouldn’t actually deny that Gearbox wasn’t working on Duke Nukem Forever. Implying that it was possible they actually were.
And then just days ago, 2K Games teased gamers by stating that they had something “big” to show off at PAX Prime 2010. And shortly afterward, 3D Realms head George Broussard tweetpic’d an image of flying pigs . . . which are a staple of the raunchy, crazy world and key cannonfodder enemy from the Duke Nukem franchise.
Here are some choice quotes from Randy himself regarding the project.
Development by Gearbox on Duke Nukem Forever started in late 2009: “Clearly the game hadn’t been finished at 3D Realms but a lot of content had been created,” he says. “The approach and investment and process at 3d Realms didn’t quite make it and it cracked at the end. With Gearbox Software we brought all those pieces together. It’s the game it was meant to be. Aliens come and say they’re going to be our friends and Duke knows this isn’t going to work out. Duke once again is in the pivotal spot and its up to him to save the world.”
“We’re in the polishing phase now. This is a game where we can not make a promise we can not fulfill,” Randy continues. “We need to get past the shock and awe and then we can go to all the retailers and first parties and work out a launch plan.”
Here is a developer interview. The health and “Ego” systems are explained. Basically you can fill Duke’s ego by performing “Duke” acts like lifting weights, destroying huge bosses and . . . other things. The weapons you’ll use in the game are also discussed!
What do you think? Will you BUY Duke Nukem Forever?
Can the Duke ship truly be revived if DNF sells like crazy, as there were reportedly multiple Duke Nukem games in development? Will Duke Begins come next? Have you been so scorned that you won’t ever touch anything Duke for so long as you live? So many question…. so many questions. Now enjoy all these kick ass Duke Nukem Forever art pieces from PAX Prime 2010!
Hail to the King, baby!