The next installment in Criterion's crash-heavy Burnout racing game series, Burnout Paradise, will ship to North American stores January 22, publisher Electronic Arts announced today.

Due out on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, the new Burnout features an open game world, set in the fictional Paradise City, with challenges available at any junction. EA also promises "a new standard for online social gameplay."

If you just can't wait until January, you'll be pleased to know that a demo will be available through the PlayStation Store and Xbox Live Marketplace in December. The demo will feature online support, and includes the new Stunt mode.

To go along with the release date announcement, here's a new minute long trailer.

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EA sends along its second batch of screenshots in a week (first round here) detailing Criterion's upcoming Burnout Paradise. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 open world crash 'em up is slated to release in the first quarter of 2008 and will support the PS3's rumbling Dual Shock 3 controller.

We received a couple of Burnout Paradise screenshots as well as this trailer, focusing on the Steel Wheel GT concept car found in the game. The next installment in Criterion's crashtacular racing game series will be released on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 some time during the first quarter of next year.

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Also previewed on GameSpot and IGN is Burnout Paradise, which hopefully has more pretty explosions and crashes.

There's a Burnout Paradise preview on IGN today, offering a first look at Criterion's crash-heavy racing game sequel. Comes with new screenshots.