Editing 3D Realms (section)

==== Corporate restructuring, legal disputes (2009–2014) ====
After ''Prey'' was transferred away from 3D Realms in 2001, the only project under development at the company was ''Duke Nukem Forever'', originally announced in 1997. The release date of the game was "when it's done."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://legacy.3drealms.com/duke4/ |title=3D Realms Site: Duke Nukem Forever |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110123915/http://legacy.3drealms.com/duke4/ |archive-date=November 10, 2014 |website=3D Realms |access-date=January 13, 2007}}</ref> 3D Realms continued some operations as a publisher as part of the [[Gathering of Developers]] publishing group, but otherwise served only as the publisher and licensee of ''Duke Nukem''-related spinoffs and mobile games for the next few years. On May 6, 2009, the [[Development of Duke Nukem Forever|development of ''Duke Nukem Forever'']] was halted, and major staff cuts were initiated with the entire development team and most other employees laid off.<ref name=shutdown>{{cite web |url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/58519/duke-nukem-developer-3d-realms |title=Duke Nukem Developer 3D Realms Shuts Down (Updated) |last1=Breckon |first1=Nick |last2=Faylor |first2=Chris |name-list-style=amp |date=May 6, 2009 |access-date=May 6, 2009 |website=[[Shacknews]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090507234540/http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/58519 |archive-date=May 7, 2009}}</ref><ref name=pressrelease/> According to Miller, the development was using up much of the company's funds as they struggled to bring in new 3D rendering technology for the game, leading to the decision to cut their staff and sell the company.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boudreau |first=Ian |date=2022-05-10 |title=Duke Nukem Forever 'destroyed 3D Realms' Apogee founder says |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/duke-nukem-forever/duke-nukem-3d-unreal-5-remake |access-date=May 25, 2022 |website=[[PCGamesN]]}}</ref>

On May 14, 2009, [[Take-Two]], holders of the publishing rights of ''Duke Nukem Forever'', filed a breach of contract suit against 3D Realms over failing to deliver the game.<ref name=lawsuit>{{cite web |url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/58642/take-two-sues-3d-realms |title=Take-Two Sues 3D Realms for Failing to Deliver Duke Nukem Forever (Updated) |first=Nick |last=Breckon |date=May 14, 2009 |access-date=May 16, 2009 |website=[[Shacknews]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090516154730/http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/58642 |archive-date=May 16, 2009}}</ref> Take-Two Interactive asked for a restraining order and a preliminary injunction, to make 3D Realms keep the ''Duke Nukem Forever'' assets intact during proceedings.<ref name=lawsuit2>{{cite web |url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/58651/take-two-v-3d-realms |title=Take-Two v. 3D Realms Court Documents Materialize, 3DR's Scott Miller Responds |first=Nick |last=Breckon |date=May 15, 2009 |access-date=May 16, 2009 |website=Shacknews |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090518092202/http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/58651 |archive-date=May 18, 2009}}</ref><ref name=lawsuit3>{{cite web |url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/58664/no-30m-offer-for-duke |title=No $30M Offer for Duke Nukem IP, Says 3D Realms |first=Chris |last=Faylor |date=May 16, 2009 |access-date=May 16, 2009 |website=[[Shacknews]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090518094006/http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/58664 |archive-date=May 18, 2009}}</ref> On May 18, 2009, 3D Realms key executives announced that "3D Realms has not closed and is not closing", but that due to lack of funds development operations were ceasing and the company would continue to "license and co-create games based upon the ''Duke Nukem'' franchise." They accused Take-Two of trying to acquire the ''Duke Nukem'' franchise in a "[[fire sale]]".<ref name="pressrelease">{{cite web |date=May 18, 2009 |title=3D Realms: We're not closing, Spent $20M on Duke Nukem Forever |url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2009/05/3d-realms-were-not-closing-spent-20-million-on-duke-nukem-forever/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090522225923/http://www.kotaku.com.au/2009/05/3d-realms-were-not-closing-spent-20-million-on-duke-nukem-forever/ |archive-date=May 22, 2009 |access-date=May 19, 2009 |website=[[Kotaku]] Australia}}</ref>

On September 3, 2010, Take-Two Interactive announced that development of ''Duke Nukem Forever'' had been shifted over to [[Gearbox Software]], effectively ending 3D Realms' association with the game after 12 years of development. 3D Realms remained credited as a co-developer on ''Duke Nukem Forever'', due to their involvement in developing most of the game. The rights and intellectual property were sold to Gearbox, however, who became the owners of the ''Duke Nukem'' franchise.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-09-07 |title=Gearbox acquires Duke Nukem IP |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gearbox-acquires-duke-nukem-ip/1100-6275307/ |access-date=2023-01-09 |website=[[GameSpot]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

An external developer, [[Interceptor Entertainment]], started work on a fan-project remake of ''Duke Nukem 3D'' in 2010. They received a limited authorization from Gearbox to proceed with the game, which was named ''[[Duke Nukem 3D: Reloaded]]''. However, after ''Duke Nukem Forever''{{'}}s release and negative reception in 2011, ''Duke Nukem 3D: Reloaded'' was put on hold indefinitely.

In an interview conducted with Scott Miller in April 2011, Miller specified that 3D Realms was involved with several projects: "we have several projects underway, all fairly small—not any big console games. Once [''Duke Nukem Forever''] comes out we'll be definitely looking to invest into other projects, and maybe other {{Sic|up-n-coming}} teams who are blazing new trails on smaller platforms, like smart phones and XBLA."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://legacy.duke4.net/news.php?item.449.4 |title=Our Five-Question Interview with 3D Realms CEO Scott Miller |author=Green |date=April 15, 2011 |website=Duke 4 |access-date=July 5, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330152058/http://legacy.duke4.net/news.php?item.449.4 |archive-date=March 30, 2016}}</ref> 3D Realms did not publish any released titles over the next few years, however.

In June 2013, 3D Realms sued Gearbox for unpaid royalties as well as unpaid money for selling the ''Duke Nukem'' intellectual property.<ref>{{cite web |last=Narcisse |first=Evan |title=Duke Nukem Creators 3D Realms Suing Gearbox over Unpaid Royalties |url=https://kotaku.com/duke-nukem-creators-3d-realms-suing-gearbox-over-duke-n-513153451 |website=[[Kotaku]] |date=June 13, 2013 |access-date=August 10, 2013 |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> The lawsuit was dropped in September 2013 with 3D Realms apologizing with an announcement that they had resolved any differences they had with Gearbox. In February 2014, Gearbox sued 3D Realms, Interceptor Entertainment and Apogee Software, LLC for developing a new game called ''Duke Nukem: Mass Destruction''. Gearbox stated that it was still the rights holder of the ''Duke Nukem'' franchise, and permission had not been granted by them to develop the game. 3D Realms soon after released a statement admitting its wrongdoing.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-02-24-gearbox-sues-3d-realms-over-duke-nukem-mass-destruction |title=Gearbox sues 3D Realms over Duke Nukem: Mass Destruction |last=Matulef |first=Jeffrey |date=February 24, 2014 |website=[[Eurogamer]] |access-date=October 6, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009134221/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-02-24-gearbox-sues-3d-realms-over-duke-nukem-mass-destruction |archive-date=October 9, 2016}}</ref> The lawsuit was settled in August 2015, with Gearbox stressing that it was still the lawful owner of the ''Duke Nukem'' intellectual property.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-08-19-gearbox-and-3d-realms-settle-duke-nukem-lawsuit |title=Gearbox and 3D Realms settle Duke Nukem lawsuit |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |date=August 19, 2015 |website=[[Eurogamer]] |access-date=October 6, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009134226/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-08-19-gearbox-and-3d-realms-settle-duke-nukem-lawsuit |archive-date=October 9, 2016}}</ref>