It's been working on Duke Nukem Forever for over 10 years but now rumors are flying that the Dallas-based developer of the long-in-development first person shooter 3D Realms has closed up shop. The rumors are based on a story over at Shacknews who is using an unnamed but "very reliable source" for its info. The usual financial issues are reportedly the cause of the shutdown.

3D Realms has been working on their follow-up to 1996's Duke Nukem 3D for longer than perhaps it should have with a number of delayed and reported "back to square one" moments. While the developer has also worked on a number of other projects with third party developers, most notably Max Payne with Remedy and Prey with Human Head, it has not created an original game on its own since the release of 1997's Shadow Warrior.

Update: In a post on 3D Realms's message board its long time employee and company webmaster Joe Siegler states, "It's true. I have nothing further to say at this time." In addition our sister site Joystiq has a statement from Take Two Interactive, confirming they still have the publishing rights to Duke Nuke Forever but that their arragement with 3D Realms did not including funding for the game's development.