Star Wars Galaxies is a Star Wars- themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) for Microsoft Windows developed by Sony Online Entertainment and published by LucasArts. Released on June 26 2003 to much critical acclaim it spawned three expansions through 2005. The game was completely overhauled twice in 2005 which frustrated many longtime subscribers. Star Wars Galaxies continued operation for six more years. The servers shut down on December 15 2011 just 5 days prior to the release of Star Wars: The Old Republic with Sony claiming expiration of its contract and not a declining playerbase as being the sole cause. Notwithstanding the game's closure there are several private emulator projects in various stages of development that intend to allow users to experience Star Wars Galaxies in different incarnations of the game's existence.