Editing Gearbox Software (section)

=== ''Duke Nukem'' series ===
{{Main|Duke Nukem}}
''[[Duke Nukem Forever]]'' had been a project with a [[development hell|troubled development history]] at [[3D Realms]], who had created the ''[[Duke Nukem]]'' series, since sometime prior to 2000. Due to financial difficulties in 2009, 3D Realms was forced to downsize and ultimately lay off most of the development staff. Take-Two Interactive sued 3D Realms for failing to deliver ''Duke Nukem Forever''.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.gamespot.com/articles/take-two-sues-duke-nukem-forever-dev/1100-6209746/ | title = Take-Two sues Duke Nukem Forever dev | date = May 18, 2009 | access-date = February 4, 2021 | website = [[GameSpot]] }}</ref>

Pitchford, who had prior industry relations with many 3D Realms staff including [[George Broussard]], learned that many of the 3D Realms team were still eager to develop ''Duke Nukem Forever'', working out of their homes on what they could. Pitchford negotiated with Take-Two to bring many of the former 3D Realms staff into a new studio called Triptych Games, housed at Gearbox's headquarters, to continue working on ''Duke Nukem Forever'' following 3D Realms' closure in 2009.<ref>{{cite magazine | url = https://www.wired.com/2010/09/randy-pitchford-duke-nukem/ | title = Q&A: How Randy Pitchford Saved Duke Nukem Forever | first = Chris | last = Kohler | date = September 8, 2010 | access-date = February 4, 2021 | magazine = [[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] | archive-date = January 18, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210118113018/https://www.wired.com/2010/09/randy-pitchford-duke-nukem/ | url-status = live }}</ref> As a result, 3D Realms sold the rights to ''Duke Nukem'' and the existing work on ''Duke Nukem Forever'' to Gearbox around February 2010. Take-Two and Gearbox subsequently announced in September 2010 that Gearbox would finish production of ''Duke Nukem Forever''.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gearbox-acquires-duke-nukem-ip/1100-6275307/ | title = Gearbox acquires Duke Nukem IP | date = September 7, 2010 | access-date = February 4, 2021 | website = [[GameSpot]] | archive-date = February 5, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220205115531/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gearbox-acquires-duke-nukem-ip/1100-6275307/ | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=High |first=Kamau |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/09/03/controversial-long-awaited-duke-nukem-forever-will-finally-be-released/ |title=Controversial 'Duke Nukem Forever' Will Finally Be Released |publisher=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=September 3, 2010 |access-date=October 22, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021040530/https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/09/03/controversial-long-awaited-duke-nukem-forever-will-finally-be-released/ |archive-date=October 21, 2016}}</ref> ''Duke Nukem Forever'' was released in June 2011, and received negative critical reception on release, with most of the criticism directed towards the unfinished, rushed state of the game.<ref>{{cite web |title=The 10 Most Disappointing Games of 2011 |url=http://www.complex.com/video-games/2011/12/the-11-most-disappointing-games-of-2011#11 |access-date=March 15, 2012 |date=December 24, 2011 |first=Elton |last=Jones |publisher=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229003128/http://www.complex.com/video-games/2011/12/the-11-most-disappointing-games-of-2011 |archive-date=February 29, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/5207-Top-5-of-2011 |title=Top 5 of 2011 |first=Ben |last=Croshaw |website=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]] |date=January 12, 2012 |access-date=June 13, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405032631/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/5207-Top-5-of-2011 |archive-date=April 5, 2015}}</ref> Despite the criticism, the game topped the charts on release and made a profit.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/duke-nukem-forever-made-a-profit-go-on-pull-the-other-one/ |title=Duke Nukem Forever made a profit? Go on, pull the other one |first=Justin |last=Towell |website=[[GamesRadar]] |date=August 9, 2011 |access-date=June 13, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617200803/http://www.gamesradar.com/duke-nukem-forever-made-a-profit-go-on-pull-the-other-one/ |archive-date=June 17, 2015}}</ref>

3D Realms had initially sued Gearbox in June 2013 for unpaid royalties over ''Duke Nukem Forever'',<ref>{{cite web |last=Narcisse |first=Evan |title=Duke Nukem Creators 3D Realms Suing Gearbox over Unpaid Royalties |url=http://kotaku.com/duke-nukem-creators-3d-realms-suing-gearbox-over-duke-n-513153451 |publisher=Kotaku |date=June 13, 2013 |access-date=October 22, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729004514/http://kotaku.com/duke-nukem-creators-3d-realms-suing-gearbox-over-duke-n-513153451 |archive-date=July 29, 2013}}</ref> but dropped the suit by September 2013, with 3D Realms' founder Scott Miller stating that it was a misunderstanding on their part.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2013/09/13/3drealms-drops-lawsuit-against-gearbox-over-duke-nukem-forever/ |title=3DRealms drops lawsuit against Gearbox over Duke Nukem Forever royalties |first=Jon |last=Fingas |website=[[Engadget]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |date=September 13, 2013 |access-date=June 13, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615073121/http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/13/3drealms-drops-lawsuit-against-gearbox-over-duke-nukem-forever/ |archive-date=June 15, 2015}}</ref>

3D Realms was eventually acquired in part by [[Interceptor Entertainment]], and in 2014, Interceptor announced plans to make a new ''Duke Nukem'' game, ''Duke Nukem: Mass Destruction''. Gearbox filed suit against 3D Realms and Interceptor based on the fact that Gearbox now owned the rights to the ''Duke Nukem'' franchise.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/lawsuit-seeks-to-stop-new-duke-nukem-game-teased-by-ori-1529092021 |title=Lawsuit Seeks to Stop New Duke Nukem Game Teased by Original Studio [Update] |first=Owen |last=Good |website=[[Kotaku]] |date=February 23, 2014 |access-date=June 13, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419192049/http://kotaku.com/lawsuit-seeks-to-stop-new-duke-nukem-game-teased-by-ori-1529092021 |archive-date=April 19, 2015}}</ref> The case was settled out of court in August 2015, with 3D Realms and Interceptor acknowledging that Gearbox has full rights to the ''Duke Nukem'' series.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2015/08/19/gearbox-wins-war-with-3d-realms-interceptor-for.html | title = Gearbox wins war with 3D Realms, Interceptor for 'Duke Nukem' brand | first = Danielle| last=  Abril  |date = August 19, 2015 | access-date = February 4, 2021 | website = Dallas Business Journal }}</ref> Following the settlement, Gearbox released ''Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary Edition World Tour'' in September 2016. The game included new levels developed in conjunction with some of the original developers, re-recorded lines by original Duke voice actor [[Jon St. John]], and new music from original composer [[Lee Jackson (composer)|Lee Jackson]]. It was released on October 11, 2016.<ref>{{cite web |last=Makuch |first=Eddie |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/head-turning-new-duke-nukem-game-teased-but-dont-e/1100-6428903/ |title="Head-Turning" New Duke Nukem Game Teased, But Don't Expect it Soon |website=[[GameSpot]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |date=July 15, 2015 |access-date=October 22, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009162730/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/head-turning-new-duke-nukem-game-teased-but-dont-e/1100-6428903/ |archive-date=October 9, 2016}}</ref>