Amidst a wave of damning criticism, Duke Nukem Forever was a financial success.
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick announced yesterday that Duke Nukem Forever was profitable for the software publisher, in spite of largely negative criticism.
“Despite its disappointing reviews, Duke Nukem Forever was profitable for Take-Two,” Zelnick said during a conference call.
Coupled with his previous statements regarding future (possibly non-videogame) plans for the franchise, it seems this womanizing, feces-flinging, potty-mouthed protagonist won’t be laid to rest any time soon.
DNF spent over 14 years in development limbo, enduring engine swaps, team layoffs, a studio switch, and analyst claims that the title would be financially unsuccessful. Gearbox Software, developer of Borderlands and the Brothers in Arms series, eventually took the game’s reins and led it to completion.
It finally released in June, earning Metacritic scores near the 50 mark across all three platforms. Duke received a two-star review from The Escapist’s own Russ Pitts, who stated “Duke Nukem Forever is a deeply flawed game that I would have stopped playing after five minutes were it not a requirement of my job to play longer.”
Some games are indeed critic proof. Always bet on Duke.
Source: Gamasutra
