Duke Nukem will return in a top-down action RPG for PC and PlayStation called Duke Nukem: Mass Destruction, according to a teaser message decoded by fans.
A coded message from alloutofgum.com - which now only displays an image of Duke's favorite chewing gum and a timer counting down to February 25 - was decrypted and posted on the Duke4.net forum. The message speaks of an alien world called Kyrron which was twisted and ruined by a mysterious force, compelling its native race to set out and conquer other planets. "The king makes his next generation debut in Duke Nukem: Mass Destruction, a top-down action role-playing game for PC and PlayStation," reads the game's blurb.
"Duke Nukem kicks ass across planets in an Unreal Engine-powered galactic adventure to save the president from an apocalyptic alien threat. All new enemies, a never before seen arsenal of devastating weaponry, and series-first mechanics, including experience points and tech trees, will let Duke rip 'em a new one in a way he never has before."
Mass Destruction appears to be the commercial name for Project Ascender, which in December was discovered to be in development at Interceptor Entertainment.
Series creator and 3D Realms co-founder Scott Miller has joined the studio, which was also responsible for the Rise of the Triad remake and porting several Duke Nukem games to iPhone. Duke Nukem Forever released in 2011 after 14 years of development. Though a top-down action RPG is new territory for Duke Nukem, the shades-wearing anti-hero got his start with sidescrolling action games.