3D Realms drops Duke Nukem Forever royalty lawsuit (update)

3D Realms has dropped its lawsuit against Gearbox Software regarding unpaid royalties for Duke Nukem Forever, said 3D Realms co-founder and CEO Scott Miller in a letter to the media today.

This past June, 3D Realms filed a lawsuit in Texas state court, claiming that Gearbox — the studio that completed Duke Nukem Forever and released it in 2011 after 3D Realms had worked on the game for more than a decade — owed the company more than $2 million in royalties and fees.

In a letter obtained by Kotaku and later sent to Polygon, 3D Realms co-founder Scott Miller said on Sept. 11 that the studio has "voluntarily withdrawn" those claims "without any money changing hands."

"We regret the misunderstanding that instigated our lawsuit," Miller continued. "Now that we better understand — and appreciate — the actual nature of our business matters, we have voluntarily withdrawn our claims against Gearbox, with genuine apologies to Randy [Pitchford, president of Gearbox] for any damage that our lawsuit may have caused to the relationship."

We've reached out to 3D Realms and Gearbox for more details, and will update this article with any information we receive.

Update: We now have a copy of Miller's full letter. You can read it below.

Sept. 11, 2013
Las Colinas, TX

To Whom It May Concern-

After reviewing evidence regarding our business affairs, and without any money exchanging hands, we have satisfactorily resolved any and all differences that we perceived against Gearbox.

In all sincerity, we regret the misunderstanding that instigated our lawsuit. Now that we better understand — and appreciate — the actual nature of our business matters, we have voluntarily withdrawn our claims against Gearbox, with genuine apologies to Randy for any damage that our lawsuit may have caused to the relationship.

Sincerely,
Scott Miller

Individually & On Behalf of Apogee Software Ltd d/b/a 3DRealms Entertainment