Duke Nukem nearly had gay robot side-kick

Gearbox president Randy Pitchford has revealed Duke Nukem almost had a “gay robot side-kick” in the upcoming game Duke Nukem Forever.

Speaking at last night at BAFTA, Pitchford said “Sexuality is part of the Duke personality” and the side-kick was an attempt to “explore how Duke would relate to a peer that might have a different sexual orientation”.

“Duke is a wild guy,” he stated. “in his world they love him. His world is similar to ours but it’s not our world. We are in the time when most of our heroes have become pussies. They’re emo and everyone’s trying to take themselves so seriously.”

He also stated it was possible the robot might make a return in the future.

Pitchford, who’s studio has had a hand in six Half-Life titles, also quashed rumours of Valve’s Half-Life: Episode 3 by stating “I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s not even in development.”

Via Eurogamer

According to Pitchford, the robot was meant to play a key part in a seemingly dramatic storyline where he ultimately would be placed in a “situation where in order for victory against the aliens to be accomplished, the robot’s inner workings – a nuclear generator – had to be sacrificed”. But he gave no further information about the point at which the idea was dropped – or why for that matter.