10 Video Games That Languished In Development For Years
1. Duke Nukem Forever (2011)
Development Time: 15 Years (1996-2011)
The first Duke Nukem game was released in 1996 as Duke Nukem 3D, and it was widely popular. This was back when first-person shooters were in their infancy, and the game offered an immersive storyline, funny one-liners reminiscent of a Bruce Campbell movie, and a whole mess of guns.
Given the success of the game, it's no surprise 3D Realms began development of a sequel almost immediately after the first game's release. The sequel was officially announced as being in development by 3D Realms and Triptych Games in 1997, but it languished in development hell far longer than any game that came before it.
By the time Duke Nukem Forever was released, its title was more of an ironic punchline than anything else. Delays were caused by a number of factors, but the biggest impact came in 2009 when 3D Realms laid off the majority of their staff. This led to the rights being transferred to Gearbox, which finished the game on behalf of 3D Realms.
Unfortunately, the extended development time period of 15 years resulted in a title that was criticized for having mostly dated and sexist humor. What worked in the late '90s no longer worked in 2011, and as a result, the game flopped.