Gearbox declared full Duke Nukem owner as 3D Realms dispute is put to bed

The long running feud between Gearbox and 3D Realms is officially over.

Rumours of a settlement surfaced in May but now the pair have officially declared their truce, with Gearbox emerging as the full owner of the franchise.

Gearbox Software has voluntarily ended its litigation against Interceptor Entertainment and 3D Realms, and wishes to keep the terms of its settlement confidential except to confirm that Gearbox Software is the full and rightful owner of the Duke Nukem franchise,” the Borderlands developer said.

Gearbox acquired the rights to the much troubled Duke Nukem Forever from 3D Realms back in 2010. However, relations between the pair soured in 2013 when 3D Realms kicked off a lawsuit against Gearbox allegedly unpaid DNF royalties.

That claim was subsequently dropped, but trouble emerged again in 2013 when 3D Realms, which had by this stage been acquired by Interceptor Entertainment, announced plans to release a new Duke Nukem game – an IP that Gearbox said it acquired in full as part of the DNF deal.

Gearbox Software, 3D Realms and Interceptor Entertainment have resolved their differences; the parties have voluntarily ended all litigation between them,” a joint statement said.

3D Realms CEO Mike Nielsen added: When Interceptor acquired a license to develop ‘Duke Nukem Mass Destruction’ (‘Duke Nukem Survivor’) from 3D Realms, we did so in good faith and were not aware of any conflict. We never intended to cause any harm to Gearbox or Duke, which is why we immediately ceased development after Gearbox reached out.

To secure the future of Duke, 3D Realms has agreed with Gearbox that a single home serves the IP best. And as big Duke fans, we’re excited to see what Gearbox has in store for the ‘King.’ As for our own games, we’re eager to complete development of the ‘Bombshell’ game and get it in the hands of our fans.”