Flying Lab Software's swashbuckling PC MMO Pirates of the Burning Sea will launch worldwide on January 22, 2008. As has become commonplace, those who pre-order the title will net a boatload of goodies, including a powerful in-game weapon and a parrot, along with early access to the game's servers on January 7.

Published under Sony Online Entertainment's Platform Publishing label, the game has players picking one of four factions--Pirate, English, French, and Spanish--and battling for dominance over the open sea. Said factions will constantly battle over ownership of the game's numerous ports, which affects the in-game economy. As with any good pirate-themed outing, combat occurs in both ship-to-ship and personal sword-swinging, pistol-firing varieties.

"The vast amount of player-created content and the intense strategy required in Pirates of the Burning Sea sets it apart from any other MMO on the market," noted Sony Online Entertainment global brand manager D Tim Granich, Sr. Global Brand Manager. "Gamers will be donning their captain's gear and eagerly awaiting their next battle on land or sea."