Report: Duke Nukem Developer Shuts Down
It looks like DNF might turn out to be a DNF*.
Rumor has it Duke Nukem Forever developer 3D Realms is shutting down. Shacknews today cites ‘a reliable source close to the company' who said the developer, along with the recently resurrected Apogee name, is finished and employees from both have already been let go.
With no comment available from 3D Realms or Take Two, we’re left wondering if there’s a grain of truth to this one. On the one hand, the news that we’ll never, ever see Duke Nukem Forever is not shocking. On the other hand, we sort of don’t want to believe this one.
A few weeks back rumors did the rounds claiming the company was ‘nearly finished’ Duke Nukem Forever. All of this was based around a Tweet from CEO, George Broussard who told fans, “Closing out a milestone this week. 71 more tasks to do and we started with probably 800-900. Been a good push. Next one starts Monday.”
People got all excited and started whispering about DNF milestones despite the fact that the company is also working on Prey 2 and more likely to release that title before DNF because let’s face it, they’re in no rush with the next Duke game. Official release date remains, “It’ll be done when it’s done.” Because really, you can’t rush art.
Shacknews is usually pretty reliable but we hope the lads are wrong on this one. For the record (in case you guys care), George's Twitter drops no hints that the company has gone under. We've tweeted at him to see if you can get a confirmation or a denial and will update when we know more.
*For those not familiar with race lingo, DNF also stands for ‘did not finish.’ Leave your fond memories of Duke Nukem below.
[UPDATE] Apogee Software and Deep Silver have just issued statement to Shacknews, confirming that there is a "situation at 3D Realms" but stressing they are not affected.
"Deep Silver and Apogee Software are not affected by the situation at 3D Realms. Development on the Duke Nukem Trilogy is continuing as planned."
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Nooooooo! I know it was always so unlikely to actually be released but at least there was hope.
GOD DAMM IT! NOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
about 10 years slow for them to be killed off
lol dnf will never ever be finished, but at least you guys will always have that faint glimmer of hope that someday you will be able to buy it. I think it is an unlucky game - lets hope the company who buys the rights to it doesn't fail halfway through coding it too.
Zeesh T_T Forever
No big surprise that it's not coming out
Every Duke Nukem fan just let out a blood curdling scream.
I don't care what anyone says. Duke Nukem' will always be Forever, if it finishes or not is not the issue. Hail to the kings, baby.
This news makes me about as sick to my stomach as when I heard Sierra has basically no more; sad, sad day in my book. As long as ID and Epic keeps on trucking though I will survive...
what????? the heck!!!! arghhhh... lol why doesnt someone just make a crysis mod or sumtin? lol 3D had been around for how long now? yet Duke never really officially made it to 3D.... thats kinda funny really.. rofl
I certainly hope they can continue development, but I almost don't want them to finish. I doubt it's going to live up to the +10 year development time (I guess that causes some stress for the developers), and it's become more interesting as a concept, and an idea, than a product.
what????? the heck!!!! arghhhh... lol why doesnt someone just make a crysis mod or sumtin? lol 3D had been around for how long now? yet Duke never really officially made it to 3D.... thats kinda funny really.. rofl
Well there were 2 3rd person games released on the consoles a while back (Duke Nukem Time to Kill and Planet of the Babes)
there was also Duke Nukem Manhattan project 3d/side scroller.
http://pc.ign.com/articles/980/980457p1.html
Think this one is true....not good.
Hopefully someone will pick up the ip.
Bah, I hate rumors, whether they be accurate or not.
Whatever. Where does that leave Prey 2, though? I really liked Prey and would like 2 play the sequel!
Release the source code, and make it opensource!!
A statement was released on behalf of Deep Silver and Apogee Software, the two companies working on Duke Nukem portable titles. "Deep Silver and Apogee Software are not affected by the situation at 3D Realms," the statement reads. "Development on the Duke Nukem Trilogy is continuing as planned." Late last year Apogee Software was launched as a sister arm to 3D Realms.
Gamasutra is reporting that it received confirmation that 3D Realms will close by week's end.
A statement was released on behalf of Deep Silver and Apogee Software, the two companies working on Duke Nukem portable titles. "Deep Silver and Apogee Software are not affected by the situation at 3D Realms," the statement reads. "Development on the Duke Nukem Trilogy is continuing as planned." Late last year Apogee Software was launched as a sister arm to 3D Realms. Gamasutra is reporting that it received confirmation that 3D Realms will close by week's end.
I hope it does continue, and with its traditions
I sure as hell hope EA doesnt snap it up and f***k it up like they do with everything they touch
Hmmmph,and I had my Duke Nukem Extreme "T" shirt already,I think I've had that for what 10years?? now,and it is still going strong unlike DN..
??Question did they hire a bunch of monkeys to write the game ??
All in all look how many games have come out since,after all it is not "rocket science"...
Apogee made the statement somewhat public on its Twitter site: http://twitter.com/ApogeeSoftware
DNF was announced in 1997
Since then, we’ve only seen sporadic releases of screenshots that went from PSone-like graphics , to most recently ( i guess last november?) nice HD pics.
The title is synonymous with delays.At this point, it’ll be a massive surprise if it even sees the light of day within our lifetimes. DNF will actually disappoint us if it does come out. Why?? because a 12-year delay has built up expectations for the game to impossible levels
guess the only way to play duke is to play the old dos game.........
what a bummer
Development on the Duke Nukem Trilogy is continuing as planned.
PFIIIUUUU ...
maybe they need some bailout money
Wow that scared the hell out of me, i got goosebumps and was like WTF. Phew, i hope they pull this through. If they finish they will make Millions off of 1 game, probably break a record. So many people anticipated this game for over 10 years.
All together now:
"Its time to kick ass and chew bubble gum, and I'm all out of gum!"
Development on the Duke Nukem Trilogy is continuing as planned.PFIIIUUUU ...
This is not the DNF game this is a new set of portable games.
This is the official end of the longest running vaporware title ever!!
It won't be the end... another team will pick it up and almost finish it, just so they can cancel it again and piss everyone off.
I bet no one ever really worked on it.
Where are the serious modders out there? They should just make the damn game for them.
is it because of the piracy?
Shutting down tends to happen when a software company doesn't make software. According to Wikipedia, their last game (that wasn't a rehash of DN3D) was Prey which came out in 2006 and before that was Max Payne 2 in 2003. One game every 3 years isn't a healthy habit.