Development was due to be completed by mid-2010, but was mysteriously suspended in April 2009. 3D Realms alleges that Take Two cancelled the game to restrict 3D Realms' income, giving Take Two the ability to purchase the Duke Nukem rights at a lower cost because 3D Realms would be desperate for any cash to keep their studio afloat, especially as they would be unable to repay the $2,500,000 royalty advance due 2012.

Amid its rebuttals, 3D Realms also revealed that they've pumped over $20,000,000 of their own money into Duke Nukem Forever's development, which is presumably on top of the advances they received. To put that figure in perspective, Grand Theft Auto IV cost around $100,000,000, Halo 3 $30,000,000, and Killzone 2 $40,000,000. Difference being, the aforementioned games had publishers funding development, whereas 3D Realms has flown solo for the past thirteen years to retain complete control of intellectual property rights. Interestingly, 3D Realms claims that development continues on Duke Nukem Forever, but with what staff and what cash remains unclear.