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.
