IGN reports that Star Wars: The Old Republic, BioWare's massively-multiplayer online role-playing game that recently went free-to-play, is getting its first expansion and it's looking, uh --- attractive.

If you're already playing the game, swinging around your lightsaber or ducking into cover with your blasters, then this should be welcome news. The first expansion to the game will be called Rise of the Hutt Cartel and will presumably star Jabba's chubby ancestors as villains. Not much is known about the expansion's content, but the level cap will be increased to 55 and you'll be able to explore the new planet of Makeb.

The expansion will be a digital download only, so you won't be able to find any boxed copies in stores. If you're taking advantaging of the free-to-play model, the expansion will cost you $19.99. You'll also get five days of early access and become a Preferred Status member if you lock in your pre-order before January 7th, 2013. If you're a subscriber, you'll receive all of the bonuses mentioned above, plus the expansion will be discounted by 50% and cost you only $9.99.

For more on the expansion, read through the pre-order FAQs and keep an eye on the official site for updates. And if you haven't jumped on the free-to-play bandwagon --- or starship, whatever --- then check out the trailer below to see if you're down to explore a whole new galaxy.

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