It's finally, really, actually ... maybe going to happen at this point. The rumors are true: Gearbox Software and 2K Games have taken on the Herculean task of completing and releasing 3D Realms' unfinished Duke Nukem Forever. The project was officially unveiled today at PAX during a livestreamed presentation at the 2K Games booth.

Gearbox began finishing Duke Nukem Forever in late 2009, according to The Wall Street Journal, which cites both 2010 and "next year" as expected release dates for the game. "Clearly the game hadn't been finished at 3D Realms but a lot of content had been created," Gearbox president Randy Pitchford told WSJ.

"We're in the polishing phase now. This is a game where we can not make a promise we can not fulfill," Pitchford added. "We need to get past the shock and awe and then we can go to all the retailers and first parties and work out a launch plan."

Duke Nukem Forever is a sequel to Duke Nukem 3D and will feature both a single-player campaign and multiplayer. "Aliens come and say they're going to be our friends and Duke knows this isn't going to work out," Pitchford revealed of the plot. "Duke once again is in the pivotal spot and its up to him to save the world."

[Image credit: Kurt Miller]