If you are like me and have always said, “don’t hold your breath,” in response to someone hinting at a Duke Nukem Forever release date, well now you can finally breathe again. The game has a publisher, it’s currently in the polishing stages, and is set to release next year. That’s 2011 for all of you people out there not keeping up (or senile). Gotta speak to our core demographic.

This week at PAX 2010, Gearbox Software announced it had picked up the crumbling staple of 3D Realms and was going to be releasing the title in partnership with 2K Games.

For those that need a refresher on the subject, Duke Nukem Forever has been in development since 1997. Yeah, that’s a long time ago (in gaming years anyway). It also hasn’t had the best development cycle. 3D Realms continued to press on and work on Duke Nukem, but 2K started to grow weary of the progress, wanting things to be released, eventually refusing to pay for anymore development time. 3D Realms failed to deliver, and layed off most of it’s staff and closed its doors in 2009, leaving Duke in video gaming limbo.

Fast forward a few years after the closure of 3D Realms and the game still was making progress and being worked on in the apartments and garages of a few 3D Realms guys. Randy Pitchford of Gearbox got his start at 3D Realms. It’s close to his heart. He worked on Duke Nukem 3D and is a big Duke fan. He met with these guys to see the progress and ultimately stepped in to be the middle man with 2K Games to have the game published (having success and good relationships after Borderlands and the Brothers In Arms series). 2K has spent so much money on the game (around 20 million already) that it would be completely stupid for them to NOT come out with Duke Nukem Forever. That would just be money down the drain.

But not only is Duke Nukem Forever going to see the light of day and a full retail release on consoles and PC, we could very well see the continued release of Duke Nukem games after the fact. Also announced at PAX 2010 is Gearbox Software owns the Duke Nukem intellectual property. Yep. That. Is. Awesome. Duke Nukem officially has a steady home.

I don’t know about you guys out there, but I’ve turned red, purple and brown in the face holding my breath for Duke Nukem Forever. It feels so good to see Duke rise up from the ashes. It’s what Duke would do and how he would want it. That and I can’t wait to get back to kicking ass, looking at strippers, and chewing bubble gum (I take that back, Duke always seemed to be out of gum).

I look forward to getting hands on with Duke Nukem Forever soon, and hearing about this awesome story with a great ending. Keep an eye out gamers and we’ll continue to have news on this front as it happens. But for now? Breathe easy friends. Your good buddy Duke is back.