This week at PAX 2010 2K Games announced that developer Gearbox Software (makers of Borderlands) is currently developing Duke Nukem Forever. Let’s begin with some background information for those of you not in the know. DNF is a game that was originally announced in April of 1997 as the sequel to 1996’s Duke Nukem 3D. Almost every year since 1997 then-developer 3DRealms teased promotional material from the game promising that a final version was on its way. 3DRealms took so long to come out with actual gameplay that publisher Take-Two Interactive sued them in 2009; since then a settlement has been reached. And now, 13 years after its originally announcement, DNF is very real thanks to a new development team backing the improved graphics engine. Publisher 2K Games (a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive) pegs a 2011 release for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Windows PC.
Still don’t believe that Duke is making his long-awaited comeback? To prove that he is no longer vaperware for the video games industry to make fun (though they likely always will), 2K Games offered 15 minute playable–I said playable–demo at PAX 2010 for those in attendance (17 years of age or older) in addition to a trailer. Head over to Joystiq to read their account of all things DNF; it includes screenshots from the game. 2k Games even issued a press release to provide further proof that Duke is well and alive. It’s sitting in full after the break, but here’s an excerpt that briefly details the first-person shooter:
Put on your sunglasses and prepare to step into the boots of Duke Nukem, whose legend has reached epic proportions in the years since his last adventure. The alien hordes are back and only Duke can save the world, again. Pig cops, alien shrink rays and enormous alien bosses won’t stop our hero from accomplishing his one and only goal: to save the world, save the babes and to be a bad-ass while doing it. The King of All Shooters is back with over-the-top weapons, massive aliens and unprecedented levels of interactivity. This game puts pedal to the metal and tongue firmly in cheek, among other places. Shoot hoops, lift weights, read adult magazines, draw crude messages on whiteboards or ogle one of the many beautiful women that populate Duke’s life; that is if you can pull yourself away long enough from kicking ass and taking names. Duke Nukem was and will forever be immortalized in gaming history, and this is his legend.