Well, I didn’t expect this.

After 13 years of development hell, Duke Nukem Forever, the sequel to 90s first-person-shooter classic Duke Nukem 3D is finally, FINALLY FINALLY on its way to consoles and PC. And we’re all still here. No fire raining down from the sky, no boiling oceans. It’s happening. It’s really happening. Unless, of course, something terrible happens between now and release. Knock on wood!

Revealed at Penny Arcade Expo 2010, Duke returns courtesy of Gearbox Software, taking over from 3D Realms.

“All great things take time… a lot of time,” laughs Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K Games, Duke’s longtime publisher. “After a hiatus from the video game world, Duke Nukem is back and better than ever. The return of the King from the glory days of shooters will satisfy our patient, die-hard fans, as well as a new generation of bubble gum-chewing, flat top and shades-wearing bad-asses. Make no mistake about it – Duke Nukem Forever is a testament to the era of when shooters were bodacious and fun.”

In this day of grim brown-and-bloom war shooters, I agree. The genre could use a good kick in the ass. Whether or not today’s modern warfare-rs will agree remains to be seen. We’ll all find out next year when Duke Nukem Forever ships. Hopefully.