Interceptor acquires 3D Realms

Interceptor Entertainment has acquired Duke Nukem creator 3D Realms Entertainment.

The acquisition was reported in Danish news outlet Børsen and later confirmed by Interceptor chief executive Frederik Schreiber over Twitter.

Interceptor is probably best known for its work on the 2013 Rise of the Triad remake. 3D Realms, meanwhile, was founded in 1987 as Apogee Software, but Interceptor's acquisition of 3D Realms does not mean it now owns Apogee Software LLC.

Rights to the Apogee Software name were bought by Terry Nagy in 2008 who co-founded Apogee Software LLC and the deal included several classic Apogee IPs, including Rise of the Triad, which it licensed out to Interceptor. Apogee Software LLC is and always has been a separate company from Apogee Software Ltd.

The franchises that Interceptor does have access to include Commander Keen, Shadow Warrior and the old Duke Nukem titles up to Duke Nukem 3D.

Apogee began publishing games under the 3D Realms label in 1994 with the name intended to only be used in its 3D games, but once 3D games looked like they were going to be here to stay, Apogee itself was dropped as a trade name with it later being sold of to Nagy.

Apogee was one of the pioneers of the Shareware model, being the first to distribute only the first instalment of a game for free with the remainder available via mail order.

Interceptor and 3D Realms are currently engaged in a legal battle with Gearbox for their work on Duke Nukem: Mass Destruction, an isometric RPG-style game that Gearbox claims breaches their trademarks as they are the current owners of the Duke Nukem property.