Gearbox Software president Randy Pitchford announced a May 3 release date for North America and May 6 for the rest of the world for Duke Nukem Forever – a title that has become a joke amongst gamers as a game that would never see the light of day.

"Today I am proud, humbled and even astounded to announce that the day is coming at last for all gamers to be a part of video game history: Duke Nukem Forever will launch worldwide this May!" said Pitchford.

In the latest trailer to be release on the official website, developers Gearbox and 2K Games take a jab at their own game when a female voice is heard asking, "What about the game Duke, is it any good?" to which the protagonist with an overt sense of machismo replies, "Yeah, well after 12 f***ing years, it should be."

Rumours of a new sequel to the original 16-bit DOS Duke Nukem games began in 1997 with subsequent delays in the years that followed. Eventually, the first person shooter turned into more of a myth with gamers losing hope for any real release.

Duke Nukem Forever will be released on PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 starting May 3, but players can take a peek at a playable demo through the Borderlands ‘Game of the Year' edition. Pre-orders are currently being taken for the title.