Duke Nukem Forever Demo Linked to Borderlands GOTY Launch

Gearbox Software, as the developer, and 2K Games, as the publisher, have announced that those gamers who pick up the Game of the Year edition of the Borderlands shooter will get early access to the demo version of the long in development Duke Nukem Forever.

The GOTY edition of Borderlands comes packed with all the downloadable content that Gearbox has created for the surprise hit, increasing the level cap, offering more enemies to gun down and more weapons to use.

But the package will also contain a so called “Duke Nukem Forever First Access Club” certificate, allowing buyers to get the demo for Duke Nukem Forever and “exclusive items” and “a wealth of goodies” that have not been detailed.

The GOTY package will be launched on October 12 and neither Gearbox nor 2K Games are saying when the Duke Nukem Forever demo will reach those fortunate to be part of the First Access Club.

The full version of the shooter is set to arrive at some point in 2011, with Gearbox picking up development duties on the title after developer 3D Realms closed down last year and delivering a playable demo section at recent game show events.

Duke Nukem Forever was initially announced in 1997, soon after the success of the previous game featuring the character.

The game was set to deliver both impressive graphics and a universe full of character but changes in the engine used and the game mechanics lead to delays and to apparently the death of the game when 3D Realms could no longer finance its operations.

It will be interesting to see whether the inclusion of access to the Duke Nukem Forever linked to Borderlands will vastly increase sales of the game, as the inclusion of a code for the Halo 3 beta made Crackdown into a success in 2007.