Borderlands 2 dated September 18, pre-order bonus announced

Borderlands 2 will be out September 18 in North America and September 21 internationally, publisher 2K Games just announced. It will be accompanied by 870 gajillion more guns and 96.5% more "Wub-Wub," according to its latest trailer. It is even said to be 1,000 degrees hotter, which in my eyes would then make the game unplayable, but anywho.

Those who pre-order Borderlands 2 will gain access to the game's "Premiere Club," which will allow you to download the Gearbox Gun Pack, a Golden Key and the Vault Hunter’s Relic. The gun pack is a unique arsenal of weaponry to help you begin your journey in Borderlands 2, while the Relic is an in-game item that "boosts players’ gear-hunting fortune while playing solo or teaming up with friends." Lastly, the Golden Key is used to unlock a rare item in the world's mysterious Golden Sanctuary Loot Chest. If all that sounds amazing, then by all means, pre-order!

Aliens: Colonial Marines delayed until fall

Another game has been hit with the delay-hammer, and this time it's Gearbox Software's Aliens: Colonial Marines. Originally set to release this spring, the game will now launch sometime this fall, with no reason why given. While it's usually terrible to hear that a game is delayed, at least now the first half of the year, which was unusually crowded, is now opening up a tad. 

[Joystiq] Aliens: Colonial Marines shifted to a fall 2012 launch window

Borderlands 2 split-screen allows connectivity to online players

Being a co-operatively based game, it shouldn't come as a surprise to anybody that people love to play Borderlands with buds, and sometimes those buds don't have their own copy of Borderlands, meaning they'll have to occasionally mooch off of you. But what if you wanted to play with others online? Well, great news is, Borderlands 2 will allow split-screeners to also connect to two other player online, as announced by Gearbox Software's Steve Gibosn at Gamescom.

There's one slight kicker though, with the split-screening players being unable to host online servers, as Gibson says split-screeners use a lot of CPU.

Lastly, the split-screen's interface has been revamped, allowing for easier inventory management.

Teasing Borderlands 2 teaser teases dual-wielding

This teasing Borderlands 2 teaser trailer teases some gameplay, teases some logos, teases a killer beard, and most of all it teases some awesome gameplay which teases dual-wielding. It also teases the idea that this guy loves the punk group Dead Kennedys, as he's sporting a teasing pin on his right shoulder.

Borderlands 2 is official, releasing sometime after April 1, 2012

2K Games and Gearbox Software have officially revealed the development [and existence] of Borderlands 2, the sequel to 2009's sleeper hit role-playing-shooter hybrid. The game will return to Pandora as players explore new areas and "reveal secrets, and escalate mysteries of the Borderlands universe," and will feature all new characters, skills, environments, weapons, enemies, and equipment.

Borderlands 2 will be shown at both Gamescom 2011 and PAX Prime, and, as with most big announcements, GameInformer has an exclusive blowout detailing the game, including the reveal of one of the several new character classes.

There's a scheduled release date for sometime after April 1, 2012, during Take-Two's fiscal year 2013, and will be available on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.

Well, we now have a good eight months to clear our calendars.

Rumor: Another sign that leads to Borderlands 2

A "source close to the game" has confirmed the existence of Borderlands 2, and it will release on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC sometime next year, says Eurogamer. They've also heard that an announcement from Borderlands' publisher, 2K Games, will be made soon.

Although Borderlands 2 has been talked about for quite some time now, nothing has been concrete as of yet, though Gearbox Software's Randy Pitchford reminds us that the team "LOVES" the original, and that they're going to want to "do a lot of things with Borderlands in the future."

"If we haven't announced it," Pitchford says, "it doesn't exist." So, this "confirmation" will still have to be kept in the rumor mill.

Duke Nukem will soon hold four weapons...on PC, anyway

Gearbox Software Community Manager Chris Faylor posted on the Gearbox Forums that a patch based on community feedback is currently being worked on for all three versions of Duke Nukem Forever. In addition to this, PC owners will now be able to carry up to four weapons in the game's campaign, though there was no mention as to whether or not this feature would hit consoles.

The PC update also includes Valve Anti-Cheat System Support, push-to-talk voice chat, and other "fixes and improvements."

Faylor stated that more details concerning the updates--including the ones for the consoles--will come "as they're finalized."

[Gearbox Forums via Joystiq]

New maps, modes hitting Duke Nukem Forever this Fall

Today, new maps and modes were announced for Duke Nukem Forever on the Gearbox forums. Coming this Fall, the "Hail to the Icons Parody Pack" contains four new multiplayer maps and three new game modes. As you'll see from the descriptions, each map pays homage to well-known shooters, and each map will contain a new weapon--including a minigun. Best of all, this pack will be free to all First Access Club members who redeemed their membership before Duke Nukem Forever launched in their country.

New Modes

• Freeze Tag- "Freeze and shatter opponents in succession for huge streaks and combos"
• Hot Potato- Who can hold the babe the longest?
• Hail to the King- DNF-style Free-for-all

New Maps

• Call of Duke- War torn city featuring the "N00b T00b"
• Sandpit- Giant children's sandbox featuring "Sticky bombs"
• Inferno- Battle in a lava-filled landscape...in 16-bit graphics!
• 2forts1bridge- Miniguns...'nuff said 

"Hail to the Icons" will be releasing on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. 

Duke Nukem Forever Hits Macs this August

Gearbox Software announced today that Aspry Media "has been recruited" to bring Duke Nukem Forever to Macs this August. Additionally, those who pre-order the Mac version will receive 10% off plus free shipping via USPS.

More information is said to drop in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for that.

Gearbox Twitter via GameAgent

A Look Back at Duke Nukem's Origins

Before Duke Nukem was in a vicious cycle of delays, he started out as a 2D-sidescroller. In fact, in his 2D days he also looked rather pleasant, always having a huge smile on his face. Now, he's a guy who has the intention of slapping women in multiplayer matches while chewing bubblegum.

Many people like the Duke, and if you want to know the backstory behind the series, the video below does a good job at informing you on just that. The short documentary features Randy Pitchford from Gearbox Software, Scott Miller of 3D Realms, and Allen Bum of Triptych Games just to name a few faces.