Ion Fury

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***Ion Fury*** (originally announced as ***Ion Maiden***) is a first-person shooter video game developed by Voidpoint and published by 3D Realms, while the console versions will be published by 1C Publishing. It is intended to be a prequel to *Bombshell*, and uses the EDuke32 source port of the Build engine, being the first commercial game using the Build engine since 1999. A preview campaign was released on 28 February 2018 on Windows and Linux via Steam, followed by GOG.com on 21 March 2018.

The game was released on 15 August 2019 on Windows and Linux. Release dates for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch versions were the 14 May 2020 for the digital, and 26 June 2020 for the physical releases.

## Plot

In 2097, 6 months after Shelly "Bombshell" Harrison joined the Global Defense Force's domestic defense squad in Neo D.C., she became its leader. Although the streets are already unsafe and amid a long-standing state of martial law, a mysterious armed cybernetic cult emerges.

## Development

The development on the game started in 2015 under the working title ***The Washington Project*** after a Gearbox-backed EDuke32-powered port of *Duke Nukem 3D* for Android, dubbed the *Hail to the King Collection*, was silently cancelled. The Digital Deluxe Edition of *Bombshell* included the right for every customer to receive a demo of a prequel first-person shooter game once it is ready, but it also meant that a full version of the game had to be purchased to experience the entire content.

On 28 February 2018, a Steam store page was created. Players could buy the game in early access and receive the preview campaign. GOG.com initially rejected to sell the game, but reconsidered and made it available on their platform on 21 March 2018.

On 17 July 2018, the Founders Edition became available for pre-order, with only 500 copies produced.

On 23 October 2018, 3D Realms announced their partnership with 1C Company, who would publish the console versions of the game. The ports would be done externally from Voidpoint and it was stated that they would not affect the development time of the PC version.

At PAX South 2019 (18-20 January 2019), a shortened version of the Heskel's House of Horrors level was shown and was available for attendees to play. It was then given to all customers of the entire game on Steam on 23 January 2019, and with a few days' delay on GOG.com.

In late May 2019, the holding company of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden filed a lawsuit against 3D Realms for supposed imitation of their trademark in the game's title, lead character and other characteristics for US$ 2 million, fueled by an alleged prior lawsuit during the development of *Bombshell*.

On 11 July 2019, the game was officially renamed to *Ion Fury* and was scheduled to release on 15 August 2019 for Windows and Linux. A new collector's edition in a big box became available for preorder, but with different content compared to the *Founders Edition*. Also presented were a new trailer, showing Shelly's in-game sprite for the first time, and new key art.

The Founders Edition shipped in September 2019.

In the IndieDB Indie of the Year 2019 awards, *Ion Fury* won in the Player's Choice category.

## Gallery

* Ion Maiden Logo
* Ion Fury Logo
* Ion Fury Main Menu Art/Wallpaper
* 2018 Key Art
* Original Key Art 4K Wallpaper
* 2019 Key Art

## References

1. ↑ 3D Realms (28 February 2018). "Ion Maiden announced! Play it today!". *Ion Fury Steam News*. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
2. ↑ 3D Realms (17 July 2018). "Big Box & Multiplayer Announced!". *Ion Fury Steam News*. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
3. ↑ Taylor, Ivy (30 May 2019). "Iron Maiden sue 3D Realms over Early Access title Ion Maiden". *GamesIndustry.biz*. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
4. ↑ Plunkett, Luke (29 May 2019). "Iron Maiden Is Suing The Video Game *Ion Maiden*". *Kotaku*. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
5. ↑ 3D Realms (11 July 2019). "Ion Maiden is now Ion Fury - release date, new big box!". *Ion Fury Steam News*. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
6. ↑ 3D Realms (9 September 2019). "Ion Fury Big Box News!". *Ion Fury Steam News*. Retrieved 11 September 2019.

## External links

* Official website
* Official Facebook page
* Official Twitter page
* 3D Realms Physical Release
* 3D Realms Digital Release
* Steam Release
* GOG Release
* Official Dev Blogs
* A Visual History of Bombshell, an official 3D Realms article