It’s being widely reported that 3D Realms, developer of the classic game franchise, Duke Nukem, has closed its doors and let its staff go, after an apparent lack of funding for their latest project, Duke Nukem Forever, now having been in development for twelve years.

Sources told Gamasutra that the studio will be fully shut down by the end of the week.

Work on the announced Duke Nukem Trilogy game for the DS and PSP, however, currently in development at Deep Silver and overseen by the resurrected Apogee, is still continuing as planned.

Additionally, Take-Two, 3D Realms’ publishing partner for Duke Nukem Forever issued a statement saying: “We can confirm that our relationship with 3D Realms for Duke Nukem Forever was a publishing arrangement, which did not include ongoing funds for development of the title. In addition, Take-Two continues to retain the publishing rights to Duke Nukem Forever.”

History Lesson Time!

Over twenty years ago, Apogee Software was formed as a game developer and publisher after the founders, Scott Miller and George Broussard, found success in the shareware method of game distribution, giving parts of a game away for free and then charging for the full product, helping many developers, such as id Software and Epic Games (known at the time as Epic MegaGames) get their start in the industry.

Apogee changed their name to 3D Realms in the mid nineties and after success with their first person Duke Nukem 3D, and while overseeing further Duke Nukem games on consoles as well as co-creating the Max Payne series and the first-person shooter, Prey, 3D Realms toiled away on their own project and follow up to Duke Nukem 3D entitled Duke Nukem Forever, which has been on-going for around twelve years.

The company and name, Apogee Software, was recently reinstated ostensibly to exploit 3D Realms’ back catalogue of games, when they were still known as Apogee and before they changed their official name to 3D Realms. Apogee’s first project is the previously mentioned Duke Nukem Trilogy, which includes Duke Nukem: Chain Reaction, Duke Nukem: Critical Mass and Duke Nukem: Proving Grounds, releasing on DS and PSP later this year.

Definitely the end of an era.

Source: Gamasutra