Duke Nukem Endangered Species is a canceled game that was supposed to launch in 2001. It can be downloaded and played now on a PC.
The game might have been canceled for a while now but it has resurfaced again in 2022. The file is available to download from Archives and it is roughly 260 MB. This is not supposed to be the full game since it never managed to complete its development, but still, if you are a fan of the Duke Nukem franchise, this is worth a try.
The instructions are quite simple. You just need to download the given compressed file and then unpack it in a folder. Makes sure you also install the patch in the folder for the game to function properly.
According to the Duke Nukem wiki, this is a “first-person shooter and big-game hunting-style video game”. The original developers for this game had given a prototype to the Duke Nukem Wiki founder in 2010. It is likely possible that this prototype has been made available online now.
This game was first announced in 2000. It was supposed to be out by the second half of 2001 but the project was canceled in the middle of development. This uses an improved version of the Carnivores engine that was also created by the same developers.
There was a sequel that was talked about for this game as well. It was mentioned that the sequel might add multiplayer, but as the first game was canceled, plans for any multiplayer might likely have gone with it as well. While the game was canceled in 2001, some of its assets were repurposed and used in the Vivisector: Beast Within game by 3D Realms.
Duke Nukem was once the hallmark of the FPS genre but its star has all but faded now. There have been reports suggesting that Gearbox might be working on a new project in the franchise back in 2021, but nothing has come out of it.
