Star Citizen, the PC-exclusive persistent-world space shooter, underwent a Kickstarter campaign in 2012, during which it asked for $500,000. It originally smashed that goal and ended up with over $2 million. The crowdfunding initiative continued past the Kickstarter campaign, with backers able to continue pledging to the project via the game’s official website. The game is created by the famed Chris Roberts, who is behind such classic PC games as Wing Commander and Freelancer.

The project has now reached an unbelievable milestone of $18 million. This comes less than a week after the game had hit $17 million. The $18 million goal has now unlocked an exclusive star system for backer of the project.

Star Citizen is a sci-fi space shooter with online elements. Players can pilot a ship and engage in dogfights with other players, or trade with them. Taking place in a persistent online world, Star Citizen will feature single player gameplay with drop-in and drop-out co-op play.

Fans have kept on giving, and the ambition for Star Citizen grows as well. Cloud Imperium Games also have a $20 million stretch goal in place, which will allow players to take part in 1st person combat on the ground, adding to the 1st-person spaceship combat already provided. 

It’s probably a safe bet that this goal will be reached as well. It seems crowd-funding has become more profitable than anyone could have imagined, as its a way for players to help make the game they want to play. Star Citizen is well on its way to becoming the world’s first crowd-funded AAA game.

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