Rumor: 3D Realms shut down?

[Dohc-WP]

It's been working on Duke Nukem Forever for over 10 years but now rumors are flying that the Dallas-based developer of the long-in-development first person shooter 3D Realms has closed up shop. The rumors are based on a story over at Shacknews who is using an unnamed but "very reliable source" for its info. The usual financial issues are reportedly the cause of the shutdown.

3D Realms has been working on their follow-up to 1996's Duke Nukem 3D for longer than perhaps it should have with a number of delayed and reported "back to square one" moments. While the developer has also worked on a number of other projects with third party developers, most notably Max Payne with Remedy and Prey with Human Head, it has not created an original game on its own since the release of 1997's Shadow Warrior.

Update: In a post on 3D Realms's message board its long time employee and company webmaster Joe Siegler states, "It's true. I have nothing further to say at this time." In addition our sister site Joystiq has a statement from Take Two Interactive, confirming they still have the publishing rights to Duke Nuke Forever but that their arragement with 3D Realms did not including funding for the game's development.


duke forever screenies

[Solitude]

Hey maybe it will finally be finished now... by another developer!

[Maplassie]

I am selling my pc and starting a stamp collection.

[OmegaFenix]

I think maybe its better this way, like your blind, 3 legged, puppy dies instead of suppering. If we had to be honest would Duke Nukem Forever have actually worked in todays gaming enviroment or would we have ended up with another Turning Point: Fall of Liberty, Legendary, TimeShift or Soldier of Fortune PayBack?
I wrote an opinion piece on this topic here -
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/blog.php?b=655 - local link
http://capreincompositus.blogspot.co...-clock-in.html - not local link.

[Maplassie]

I check their website and forums are down aswell

The Plassie deep deep inside me wishes for this to be a controversial marketiing/launch scheme

the other plassie in me is to hungry to really care.

[Weasley]

The screen shot looks very good

[Voicy]

Duke Nukem Forever is like the girl you never scored...

In your mind it's the most awesomest thing to have inna plennit! ... until you've scored it. Then it becomes *meh*.

I prefer the concept of Duke Nukem Forever game more than I think the actual game would ever live up to. So perhaps it's a good thing...

[Maplassie]

*3D Realms was shut down on May 6, 2009 due to lack of funding, though the closure of the studio does not affect Deep Silver or Apogee Software, and the publishing rights to Duke Nukem Forever remain with 2K Games*

[Dohc-WP]

*3D Realms was shut down on May 6, 2009 due to lack of funding, though the closure of the studio does not affect Deep Silver or Apogee Software, and the publishing rights to Duke Nukem Forever remain with 2K Games*

they just have the publishing rights, not the development rights as far as i know, so when the game is finished only they can publish it, however they dont have the rights to development of the game ie to finish it

[Tinman]

Here we go

Duke Nukem Forever developer closes down