Duke Nukem Forever's U.S. Release Date: May 3, 2011

The most famous vaporware in all of video games will finally materialize this spring, as Gearbox Software confirmed a May 3, 2011 North American release date for the near-mythical Duke Nukem Forever. It launches May 6 in other territories. The launch date confirmation comes from Randy Pitchford, CEO of Plano, TX-based Borderlands developer Gearbox Software, speaking to Game Informer. Christoph Hartmann, president of Duke Nukem Forever publisher 2K Games also confirmed the release date. The game's North American release date will be almost exactly two years after the game's original developer and owner 3D Realms laid off its Duke Nukem Forever development team. That led to a lawsuit and countersuit between 3D Realms and the game's publisher Take-Two, parent of 2K. But in 2010, Gearbox acquired the Duke Nukem franchise from fellow Texas studio 3D Realms. 3D Realms and Take-Two subsequently settled their suits out of court. Development of the game, starring the testosterone-pumped 80s action hero-styled Duke Nukem, originated at Duke Nukem creator 3D Realms in the late 1990s. Previously, the studio released Duke Nukem 3D in 1996. Gearbox CEO Pitchford has close ties with 3D Realms and Duke Nukem. His first job in the industry was at 3D Realms, where he worked on Duke Nukem 3D and even spent a little time on Duke Nukem Forever in its early days.