A GOOD old row has blown up over the release of Duke Nukem Forever, with games publisher Take 2 parting company from the PR firm handling the launch.

It was already off to a somewhat rocky start with many outlets claiming review copies weren't being sent out prior to release.

But once the review websites did get their hands on the game, it seems like they really laid into it.

On metacritic the XBox 360 version has got an average of 49 per cent, PS3 55 per cent and PC 57 per cent.

Not good. Still it went to number one in the games charts on release, so perhaps holding back those review copies for a while was a good idea.

Anyway the reviews haven't gone down well with PR agency Redner Group with founder Jim Rednor tweeting: "Too many went too far with their reviews...we r reviewing who gets games next time and who doesn't based on today's venom."

This led to Take 2 being accused of putting pressure on negative reviewers.

2K Games sacked Redner Group later tweeted it had "a mutually respectful relationship with the press and will continue to do so. We don't condone @TheRednerGroup's actions at all".