Three New FFXI Expansions Coming Next Year

Not to be outdone by Blizzard’s fancy bear giveaways, Square Enix announced three new "scenario expansions" for Final Fantasy XI at the recent VanaFest event in Japan. The new expansions -- each estimated to cost around $10 -- will not add any new territory, but rather "deepen the storylines running through pre-existing areas by ushering in all-new plots and intrigues," according to the press release. You hear that? Intrigues.

These are, by the way, the greatest titled set of expansions we’ve ever seen. The first, A Crystalline Prophecy - Ode of Life Bestowing, will be released around spring, with A Moogle Kupo d’Etat - Evil in Small Doses and A Shantotto Ascension - The Legend Torn, Her Empire Born following in the months after. In an interesting decision, Square Enix is releasing these expansions online only, having them available through PlayOnline when they’re released.

Masato Kato, who oversaw the formation of the plot starting with the original Final Fantasy XI release through The Rise of the Zilart, will be playing a "key role" in the development of all three expansions. Short descriptions for each installment follow:

A Crystalline Prophecy - Ode of Life Bestowing: One day, a giant crystal appeared in the skies above Jeuno, triggering a series of unexplained happenings across the land. Now, adventurers will set forth to unravel the mysteries of this primordial crystal that holds the secret of Vana’Diel’s past.

A Moogle Kupo d’Etat - Evil in Small Doses: It all started with an innocent drop of rainwater and a rickety, ramshackle Mog House desperately in need of repairs. Little did anyone suspect that this was only the beginning of a harrowing nightmare unheard of in the annals of moogle-kind.

A Shantotto Ascension - The Legend Torn, Her Empire Born: The eccentric Professor Shantotto returned to Windurst one day after a mysterious, unexplained absence, shocking her colleagues with behavior so outrageous it put her old self to shame! When she goes so far as to proclaim herself ruler of her own empire, adventurers set out to discover the truth behind her alarming shift in personality.