Duke Nukem Forever's epicly long development cycle is going to get yet another extension according to a brand new announcement video released by Gearbox Software and 2K Games this morning.

During our hands-on with Duke Nukem Forever at PAX East, we got to play a couple of the levels in this next installment in the Duke Nukem franchise and praised it for maintaining its over-the-top status in spite of the recent launch of also over-the-top shooter, Bulletstorm. Duke's personality remains in tact as he re-enters the gaming market with competition, and the ESRB Ratings Summary for the game reveals just what that personality will entail.

In anticipation of the release, Randy Pitchford, Gearbox President and Executive Producer of Duke Nukem Forever, has a very special message he wants to share with you today as you patiently wait for Duke's long awaited return to gaming.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Za0ho-vvkXU

Not quite what you expected? That's silly, we totally gave it away in the story title. The game that some have been waiting almost 14 years for is almost here, but it's incredible that even in the capable hands of Gearbox Software this title is still being delayed.

Maybe the franchise really is cursed. Gearbox had acquired the rights to the game from 3D Realms after the studio had to stop development on the game because of financial troubles. Pitchford had spearheaded the effort to keep the title alive, but noted that sale of the franchise to Gearbox was as much the work of his former employer 3D Realms as it was his own. Naturally, this mutual interest must have stemmed from wanting to keep the title alive as it was reportedly far along in its development cycle when 3D Realms had to lay off the majority of its employees.

Christoph Hartmann, President of 2K Games, doesn't think it's anything anyone should take seriously as his comments echo the punchline of today's trailer.

“In case you haven’t heard, Duke never comes early. We’re committed to deliver a laugh-out-loud, politically incorrect experience that people will talk about for years to come. We thank Duke’s fans for their continued patience - I promise this won’t take another 15 years.”

Pitchford on the other hand, clarified the delay with a statement of his own.

“I'm very sorry for the added delay. We've all been working extremely hard and are very eager to deliver the game to you. I’ve been thinking of these lyrics from the great country song, ‘He's The Duke’ - ‘He told us if we waited we could Come Get Some, but I never knew Forever was going to be so long.'  If you're like me, June cannot come quickly enough."

Hopfully this is the last delay in a Duke Nukem Forever history stained with delays and cancellations. At any rate this scheduled push-back should give you more time to decide whether or not you want to shell out the extra coin to get the Duke Nukem Forever 'Balls of Steel' Edition.

The ultimate undeliverable title that is Duke Nukem Forever will be released internationally -- one day after E3 -- on June 10, 2011 with a North American release following shortly after on June 14, 2011.