3D Realms bought out by MS?!?

posted by Blankman

Sun May 10, 2009 at 02:07:52 PM EST

There's a theory out there by Bitbag.com that makes complete sense.  3D Realms, the developer of Duke Nukem, shuttered its doors on Thursday, only to have its site come back to life on Friday.  Perhaps MS bought the financially strapped developer to make Duke Nukem a 360-exclusive?  This could be one of their "big" unannounced releases to counter the PS3 this year!  Vaporware no more.

Check out the article & put your two cents in about this possibility: MS buys 3D Realms?!?

Also, check out the leaked footage of Duke Nukem Forever: DNF Footage @ Gametrailers.com

***UPDATE***: Apparently, Take-Two had offered $30 million to George Broussard for the Duke Nukem IP, but he rejected it.  Instead, he has chose to shop it around to id Software, Epic, Electronic Arts, and even Microsoft for additional funding to complete the game.  This is the latest "news" about the game.  Since Take-Two still holds the publishing rights, Broussard is skating on very thin ice.  However, there seems to be some life left in Duke Nukem Forever actually seeing the light of day.  Click here for the article: Take-Two offers $30 mil for DNF IP

3D Realms Possibly Bought Out By Microsoft
May 10th, 2009 | Author: Torrence Davis

David Villarreal brought this up the other night before the Warzone and I nearly flipped out. It makes so much sense it’s not even funny. This is purely speculation and not a rumor or fact.

So it begins with Microsoft getting rights to distribute Duke Nukem on Xbox Live. Isn’t it kinda strange that they would put such a classic PC game on Xbox Live? They updated it, added Live support and now every gold user can have a blast from the past online.

On May 6th, 3D Realms closed their doors and their site went down. The site came back up a day later. The funny thing about the timing of the closing of 3D Realms is that it’s less than a month away from E3. What David told me completely blew my mind the other night. He thinks that Microsoft bought 3D Realms and that they are working on Duke Nukem Forever as an exclusive Xbox 360 title to be published by Take Two.

It just seems to make a whole lot of sense. Microsoft loves releasing classic versions of their games on Xbox Live before and sometimes even after an updated version is released. This could be one of Microsoft’s megaton’s at E3. Again, it’s just speculation but it would be really cool to see this happen. I’ve been waiting for Duke Nukem Forever since the game was announced.


Tags: 3D Realms, Duke Nukem, Take Two, MS, Microsoft, vaporware, I've got balls of steel (all tags)

Comments Disabled | 8 comments

  •  I wouldn't doubt it. (none / 0)

    Makes complete sense, and it seems like a good move business-wise to make it 360-exclusive. You shoulda added "I've got balls of steel!" into the Tags though ;)

    "Vuht? Ze Panzerz? WHO LET ZE PANZERZ OUWT?!?!?!?!"

    by Grymm on Sun May 10, 2009 at 06:40:10 PM EST

  •  Funny, watching the vid (none / 0)

    is the first time that I thought it might actually be cool.  I hope they are right about MS publishing it.

    Certainly, it will get all the free and instant advertising/press it needs if it is ever released, simply because of its notoriety as vaporware.

    by 3Suns on Sun May 10, 2009 at 06:53:52 PM EST

  •  duke needs to hit the gym (none / 0)

    he looks a little soft

    The road, it's home, the mountain high, river low...

    by DEGREES OF FREEDOM on Sun May 10, 2009 at 07:28:28 PM EST

  •  You know what (none / 0)

    I like how Duke looks. Low budget fits the game quite well.

    You know what would make me REALLY happy. A NEW SERIOUS SAM

    Not all who wander are lost

    by Zoso Fan on Mon May 11, 2009 at 01:44:38 AM EST

  •  There has been a big development (none / 0)

    in this saga.  Someone leaked significant amounts of the level/game info.

    This is an interesting human phenomenon.  Get axed.  In the disappointment and rage, try to "get the company back" by doing x.  Other companies were looking at x but now that it is gone, or somewhat spoiled, there is no way they want anything to do with it.  Employee stays axed.

    I don't know if this event will have any bearing at all on the actual acquisition of the properties or the securing of people involved in the project, but as an investor considering it, I would definitely be disappointed, and would without a doubt, reconsider the investment.

    *The link above is slow.  If it goes down altogether, I have a copy on my HD.  This may be all we ever get of Duke Nukem Forever.  The game isn't ruined by any means, but having the story and level design leaked on the web may have been just enough to scare investors off, even big ones like MS.

    by 3Suns on Mon May 11, 2009 at 02:02:43 PM EST

Comments Disabled | 8 comments