22Cans' Godus Kickstarter campaign closes at £526,563

The Kickstarter drive for Godus, developer 22Cans' spiritual successor to Populous, concluded this afternoon with £526,563 in contributions from 17,184 backers, 117 percent of the studio's original £450,000 goal.

The company waited until there were under 48 hours left in the funding campaign — a few hours before the £450,000 goal was reached — to announce stretch goals ranging up to £550,000. Backers met five of the six goals within that two-day period.

That means 22Cans will be able to add to Godus three extra single-player and multiplayer modes; the option to start a new religious sect; a story written by Bullfrog Productions and Lionhead Studios collaborator James Leach; a co-op multiplayer mode; and Linux support.

"Thank you," said a Kickstarter update from the studio. "Our job is now to work on and complete Godus, the game we've fallen in love with, and to make it the game you want to play."

Godus is set for release in fall 2013 on Windows PC, Mac, iOS, Android and now Linux.