It is only one month away from the release of Final Fantasy XI: Vision of Ziraat. From 3/13 on, there will be a series of 6 "expansion preparation" version ups in a 2 week span. These version ups will not have any effects on the current game, until the expansion is released. The following are the dates are the version ups (Japan Time):

3/13 9am-11am (with server maintenance)
3/17 9am (can start downloads)
3/20 9am (can start downloads)
3/24 9am (can start downloads)
3/27 9am (can start downloads)
3/31 9am (can start downloads)

PS2 version - each download is about 7MB-9MB.
Windows version - each download is about 20MBs.

Also, just before the expansion disc is released, there will be one final server maintenance (date not yet announced) for it.

(Be careful if you are playing during the time when a download is available, as if you get disconnected involuntarily, you'll have to finish downloading the patch before you can get on again.)

The following are the update details:

- New areas. Suitable Levels are from lv20 up, total up to 40 new areas (Expansion only)

- Other that the above new areas, portions of the current areas that are not accessible now will be released.

- Entrances to the outer regions will be released (Expansion only)

- Jeuno to Kazham airship route will be released (Expansion only)

- Teleport spells to the outer regions will be released (Expansion only)

- New rank6+ mission scenarios and new area quests will be added (Expansion only)

- Conquest and expeditions will have changes.

- New abilities for the new and old job classes.

- Lv61+ level cap released.

- Guild skills level cap released.

(Plus others)