Populous will hit the DS according to this press release. God, about time.

Rising Star Games is pleased to announce plans to release Populous DS in Europe ahead of its unveiling at this year’s E3. This product is part of a stellar line-up being showcased by Rising Star Games’ parent company, Marvelous Entertainment, and XSEED Games (the product’s North American publisher) at the Los Angeles Convention Centre.

Based on the original PC classic, Populous DS brings a re-imagination of the classic game which pioneered the God simulation genre. Featuring touch-screen controls that utilise the dual-screens, players manipulate five elementally-imbued gods, each with their own unique miracles within an extensive single-player campaign. In the multiplayer wireless mode, up to four players can unleash earthquakes, tidal waves and raging volcanoes onto rival players’ lands.

Populous DS is scheduled for release in Q1 2009 throughout Europe and the rest of the PAL territory.