Ultima Underworld designer Paul Neurath has successfully funded Underworld Ascendant on Kickstarter.

The game crossed its funding goal of US$600,000 yesterday, and at the time of writing had raised US$645,558 with four days of fundraising remaining.

That puts several stretch goals within reach: at US$650k a new area called The Underswamp will be added to the game’s design, and at US$700k Dragonlance author Tracy Hickman will write a novel for the game.

“Incredibly excited that we can now make the game we have so passionately wanted to make for twenty years, and do it together with you,” wrote Neurath in the latest update on the game’s Kickstarter blog.

“We are relishing climbing up into the stretch goals over the next 6 days of the campaign. Let’s enjoy that together. Then we can have an even bigger collective celebration.”

Ascendant’s story will have ties to the original Ultima Underworld games, the game’s engine will allow for player improvisation, and players can create characters that are a blend of several classes.

The game is expected to launch for PC late next year.