IndustryGamers - Informing the Games Industry

Gearbox Is Now the Sole Owner of Duke Nukem

Posted September 7, 2010 by M.H. Williams

In a press release launched on the last day of PAX 2010, Gearbox Software announced that it has acquired all the rights to the Duke Nukem IP from 3D Realms. This gives Gearbox the sole right to all future Duke Nukem games and other projects. In a presentation given at PAX, Gearbox Creative Director Mikey Neumann confirmed that the transfer was amicable and built on a shared love of the character by 3D Realms and Gearbox.

"Fifteen years ago, Duke Nukem 3D helped launch my professional video game development career. The Gearbox Software team and I are ecstatic that we have grown to a position to be able to pick up and carry the torch and help Duke rise back to glory in his time of need,” said Randy Pitchford, President of Gearbox Software. "The Fans of the legendary hero and all the incredible talent that have ever helped him all deserve the very best support that we can bring. Please join me in supporting Duke in his triumphant return so that we may all enjoy the unique, one-in-million entertainment experience that only Duke Nukem can bring."

"Gearbox was handpicked as the new home for Duke Nukem because of their continued passion, commitment and long-time heritage with the brand and 3D Realms. Gearbox and Duke Nukem make for a devastating match made in video game heaven," added Scott Miller, co-founder of 3D Realms. "The gaming community's love and demand for the Duke Nukem brand never wavered and Gearbox will not disappoint them. As you have seen from titles such as Borderlands, Gearbox will bring the right level of addictively compelling gameplay, humor and high powered explosive action to the franchise. Duke Nukem is back and will be bigger than ever."

"Gearbox was the only home appropriate for the Duke Nukem brand. They are very talented and possess the perfect perspective and understanding of the brand. Their vision for its future direction is exciting and unbelievable. I am personally cannot wait for fans to see their unique take on the franchise," said famous 3D Realms founder George Broussard. "This will be a win-win situation for everyone involved, especially the fans."

Pitchford’s relationship with 3D Realms allowed him to approach the defunct team and keep the game alive for presentation to Take-Two. Gearbox has been very secretive during the entire process, not even letting retailers or press know about the game’s continued existence until the start of PAX 2010.

“One of the things about being able to keep it secret – well, my understanding is that 2K just told their retailers about the game for the first time this morning,” said Pitchford told VG247 in an interview. “Now that the cat’s out of the bag we can actually make those plans. Now we can get with retailers and figure out the launch window, and figure out demo timing, and work with the first-parties on that. We weren’t able to do that until this point, because if we did we risked damaging it even further.”

Aliens: Colonial Marines, once believed dormant, also made a triumphant return at Gearbox’s Sunday PAX panel along with a new mystery Brothers In Arms title.

“I mean, Colonial Marines has always been very inportant to us, and we are fully committed to that project. Aliens, the movie, really inspired me,” continued Pitchford. “And because Gearbox is a multi-team studio and we have multi-team projects, when one game gets its day in the sun I know people tend to worry about the other games. But there’ no need to worry at all.”

With Duke Nukem Forever, Aliens: Colonial Marines, and more Borderlands content planned, Gearbox seems to be in full swing. IndustryGamers hopes they hit it all out of the park.

M.H. Williams has been writing in some form or another for ten years and has been a hardcore gamer since the NES first graced American shores.  You can catch him on Twitter as @AutomaticZen, Google+ as himself, or on his personal Facebook page.