Devolver Digital has quietly announced that – as a “side project” – it is working on a remake of Duke Nukem 3D in OpenGL:
Fun little side project we're working on at Devolver Digital. #getsomeOpenGL vine.co/v/bvPLYeXLu6I
— Devolver Digital (@devolverdigital) February 12, 2013
According to a reply Devolver Digital made to a Tweet from one of its followers, the game will have “some new bells and whistles plus full Steamworks support”, and that we'll hear “more on that later”. Unfortunately, whoever mans the Twitter account hasn't chosen to answer any of the other questions its followers have, like if there will be achievements, whether we'll “finally get DukeWorld”, or if the Steam version will be available for those using Linux.
But we do know for sure that the game will arrive for at least one platform on Steam; even if you didn't believe the Devolver Digital Twitter itself, someone on Duke4.net has spotted Duke Nukem 3D: Atomic Edition (along with Shadow Warrior Complete) in the Steam database. Some of the forum users seem sceptical, lamenting the lack of a high-resolution update and pointing out that Duke Nikem 3D: Atomic Edition is already available on GOG.
Duke Nukem 3D first launched back in 1996 for the PC, and is one of the games credited for popularising first-person shooters, along with Wolfenstein 3D and – of course – Doom. Given that the recent sequel Duke Nukem Forever was heavily criticised when it finally launched after fifteen or so years of development, it may be that fans will be happier with this remake of the old classic than they ever could be with a new adventure for Duke.