The collections will feature a selection of classic games from the history of the franchise, including Duke Nukem 3D, 32-bit third person titles, and handheld classics. In addition to the classics, it will include Duke Nukem 1+2 Remastered, the original platforming games that launched the franchise, rebuilt from the ground up for Evercade.
Duke Nukem 1+2 Remastered will be a feature part of Duke Nukem Collection 1. The original games have been fully upgraded to modern standards including improved resolutions and widescreen support, smooth 60fps framerates and parallax scrolling backgrounds, and redesigned HUDs for a more clear and concise gameplay experience of these platforming classics. Blaze Entertainment rebuilt these games from scratch, and they are native games rather than emulation, which means they are fully optimized for Evercade systems, with additional features such as save and load states. A deep look into the Duke Nukem 1+2 Remastered games will be broadcast by Evercade in August 2023.
This will mark the first time that Duke Nukem (1991) and Duke Nukem II (1993) - the original formative platformers that started the beloved franchise - have been available to play on a gaming console. They have been designed to evoke excitement from both the players who were there when these titles first debuted, as well as players experiencing this iconic franchise for the first time. These two games will be included on the Duke Nukem Collection 1 cartridge alongside a native port of the classic game, Duke Nukem 3D.
In 1996, Duke Nukem 3D captured the creative vision from the original two platformers while making the leap to a next-generation first-person shooter style. It is the game that took the series to new heights with its ground-breaking level design, innovative weapons, and unforgettable one-liners from the titular character. Its impact on the gaming industry is still felt now, and it remains a fan favourite to this day.
Alongside this cartridge, Duke Nukem Collection 2 gives a wider experience of the expanded universe of the franchise. Two 32-bit titles from the turn of the century are re-released for the first time including the third-person adventure from 1998, Duke Nukem: Time to Kill, and its 2000 sequel, Duke Nukem: Land of the Babes. These games take a new spin on the Duke Nukem franchise formula with a different play style as well as single and multiplayer modes. The collection is completed with a handheld entry into the series with Duke Nukem Advance, an individual first-person shooter story from the Duke Nukem franchise and a great example of the technical advances in handheld gaming.
The Duke Nukem Collections will be available to pre-order in August 2023 and will retail for £17.99 | $19.99 | €19.99 each. Each cartridge will come in a branded Evercade cartridge box with a collection number on the spine, and a full-colour manual detailing how to play, as well as some hints and facts about the games.
"We're thrilled to be working with Gearbox to bring these classic Duke Nukem games to the Evercade," said Andrew Byatt, Managing Director of Evercade. "Duke Nukem is a franchise that has been beloved by gamers for decades, and we're excited to be able to offer fans a chance to experience these games in a new way on our Evercade systems."
“We jumped at the chance to bring modern versions of the original Duke Nukem side-scrolling games to our community,” said Gearbox Entertainment’s Chief Business Officer, Sean Haran. “These collections provide a way for gamers to take a walk down memory lane or the perfect starting spot for those looking to experience the world of Duke Nukem for the first time.”
With these two new collections, Evercade is continuing its mission to bring classic games back to life on modern platforms. Both collections offer a mix of classic gaming genres that will appeal to fans and new players to the world of The Duke. So, get ready to take on the alien hordes, evil doctors and more as Duke Nukem, and experience the franchise's history like never before with these exciting new Evercade cartridge collections.
The Evercade EXP handheld gaming system is available globally and includes the IREM Arcade 1 cartridge collection and 18 built-in Capcom games. The Evercade VS home console systems are currently available worldwide from Amazon and other local retailers.
Evercade devices play games via emulation on bespoke cartridges. There are currently 37 collections available and another 12 between now and February 2024.
Evercade emulates a wide range of systems (including 8, 16, 32-bit consoles, handhelds, THEC64 and Amiga home computers and arcade games), and also highlights modern retro games created by indie developers, with support for five decades of gaming. Evercade cartridges have three distinct colour schemes to highlight their content. Red coloured boxes feature home console collections from multiple systems across five decades of gaming. Purple indicates Arcade game collections and Blue is for home computer collections.