Square Enix has announced the development of three upcoming downloadable "scenario expansions" for PC/console MMO Final Fantasy XI, which originally launched in 2002 (Japan) and 2003 (North America). The creation of the expansions is being led by Masato Kato, the developer behind the story and scenarios of the original Final Fantasy XI and its first expansion pack, Rise of the Zilart. The expansions are to be available exclusively for online purchase through the PlayOnline Viewer simultaneously for all Final Fantasy XI platforms worldwide. Final Fantasy XI retains a community of 500,000 subscribers (with 1.7 million player characters) split across three platforms — Xbox 360, Playstation 2 and PC — across which players of all formats can interact. The first expansion, entitled A Crystalline Prophecy: Ode of Life Bestowing, is to be released in spring of 2009, with the following two expansions A Moogle Kupo d’Eta: Evil in Small Dose and A Shantotto Ascension: The Legend Torn, Her Empire Born, currently undated.