Pirates set sail on Burning Sea Jan. 22

Flying Lab Software's long-in-development MMOG casts off on PCs in 2008; 'Pre-Boarding Party' ship out 15 days prior.

When Flying Lab Software announced Pirates of the Burning Sea in January 2003, the independent studio expected to be plundering the seven seas that fall. Turns out, making a massively multiplayer online game is no short order, and the Seattle-based studio has been swabbing its decks since. However, with the announcement this June that FLS had conscripted Sony Online Entertainment to add a favorable wind to its sails, a release date seemed to be just over the next horizon.

The logistical nightmare of patching hundreds of yards of canvas.

True to expectation, SOE announced today that Pirates of the Burning Sea would ship out in search of gamers' booty come January 22 for the PC. For those looking to cast off early, SOE also said that those who preorder the game can ship out 15 days prior to launch, as well as receive their very own in-game parrot, a weapon, and the game's soundtrack.

Set in the 18th century, Pirates of the Burning Sea lets players affiliate themselves with one of four factions and then take to the high seas as captain of their own ship. Players seek to capture more than 80 ports in the Caribbean, as well as square off in both land and sea-based battles accommodating 25 scurvy dogs to a side. GameSpot's previous coverage has more on the undeniably ambitious vessel.

Pirates of the Burning Sea has not yet been rated. According to the game's site, it will require a monthly subscription fee, though exact details have not been announced. The pirate MMOG is the second project from Fly Labs Software. The studio, which was founded in 1997, initially played robber baron in 2001 with Rails Across America, a 19th century railroad-tycoon strategy game.

18 Comments

  • buu96322

    Posted Oct 8, 2007 5:47 pm PT

    Well, Someone I know *cough*me*cough*, although I can't say who it is because of the NDA, played in the FP Stress Test this weekend. Although there were numerous sever problems, as it was a stress test, I had loads of fun. I'v played almost every KNOWN MMO out to date (WoW, EQ, SWG ext.), This is the only one I was truly addicted to. Like crack-addict addicted to. I couldn't get it off my mind...DEFINETLY a pre-order from me.

  • bernieberry

    Posted Oct 8, 2007 1:42 pm PT

    I think I will add this to my watched/tracked games list.

  • Vidar08

    Posted Oct 8, 2007 12:42 pm PT

    Fionndruinne, no worries about it just being raping, pillaging, and sinking ships. The entire economy will be player driven, from those who own logging camps and iron mines, to weaponsmiths, all the way up to those who own Shipyards. There is even an entire class based around trade/economics, called the Freetrader. Also, the name is a bit of a misnomer..it's not a game about pirates, it's a game about pirates, privateers, freetraders, and navy captains.

  • Cretaceous_Bob

    Posted Oct 7, 2007 5:02 am PT

    This might be the only game to get me to fork over a monthly fee.

    Also, axia, how dare you say you're tired of pirates?! The more pirate games the better! Here's hoping for yet another Sid Meier's Pirates! remake!

  • sifter132

    Posted Oct 6, 2007 3:34 pm PT

    I'm looking forward to this game - will be so refreshing if we get a non-fantasy elf/dwarf/orc game that is actually good. I enjoy fantasy, but I've always thought the pirate world was cooler and more realistic in a way. I can see myself as a character in that world much more easily than I can as some spell casting mage. Hopefully there is some good open beta action to try in a couple of months.

  • fionndruinne

    Posted Oct 6, 2007 1:02 pm PT

    I'd love a pirate MMO. Ever since playing that silly little (annoyingly addicting and fun) game Tradewinds, I've thought about a graphically good multiplayer pirate game. +1 from me, odd as the whole thing undoubtedly is.

    Of course, much of Tradewinds' fun came from trading, I wonder if this game will include anything beyond raping and pillaging?

  • Faephoenix_Eyes

    Posted Oct 6, 2007 8:55 am PT

    Pirates.... just doesnt seem like the right kind of mmo. I personnally like sticking with the fantasy stuff like warhammer, wow, vanguard, everquest, guildwars and such. Pirates just seems so... beyond the catapults, swords, and stuff but before the machine guns and tanks. I dunno... just doesnt seem like a game worth playing for me. Especially with all the complains and critisism from the beta testers. If it's at the point of beta to be so bad, how would they change it much to improve it to a super game? all in all, i think me and most people as well believe this wont be a big hit

  • axia_777

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 3:53 pm PT

    I don't know about the rest of you. but for med, I am SICK AND TIRED OF PIRATES. After those three POTC movies with Depp and crew I don't want to hear nor see about Pirates for a very very LONG TIME.

  • BigDaddy973

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 11:46 am PT

    I hope it does the pirate world justice, PLUNDER AND PILLAGE!!!!! And wenches better be a plenty in this title!

  • ColdfireTrilogy

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 11:16 am PT

    ive been really psyched to see what this game can put out. I dont want a WoW killer, we can leave all th kiddies and lamers there and just keep a small amount of dedicated gamers who will have fun and not be @** hats ...

  • 1357900

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 11:14 am PT

    This sounds like an MMO take on Sid Meirs{spelled wrong} Pirates. This might be good. note to self: add to watched/tracked games list.

  • mnmnanu

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 11:09 am PT

    i unpluged wow 2 months ago.. now im starting to remember faces.. names. i think im done with mmo's. but then again

  • nephthyswandere

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 11:08 am PT

    Well, it can't be worse than the beta, which was ARRRRful.

    /rimshot

    No seriously, the beta made me want to carve my eyes out with my mouse and quit gaming forever.

  • the3game

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 10:53 am PT

    Been checking this game for years now, just hope it turns out good

  • Lilac_Benjie

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 10:52 am PT

    This has been in development since before World of Warcraft was announced. Will it be good?

  • TehPickle

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 10:49 am PT

    I really hope this (or any other MMO) gives WoW a run for it's money, though I very much doubt it.

    Perhaps it's very unfair to make such crass comparisons, but personally I'd love a good excuse to drop the oversaturated WoW like the proverbial tonne of bricks but something needs to come close to it first. Is this game up to the task?

  • GaussGoat

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 10:30 am PT

    I have been psyched about this game for a long time; Gamespot's E3 coverage of it was great! Arrrrrrr Matey!!!

  • darkchaostitan

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 9:04 am PT

    It looks alright, I'd like to see how this turns out.

advertisement

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!

Related Game

Pirates of the Burning Sea Boxshot
Pirates of the Burning Sea

Game Stats

  • Rank:
    1,866 of 59,103
    (up by 15)
    PC Rank:
    644 of 11,450
    Tracking:
    2,041 Track It»
    Wishlists:
    1,120 Wish It»
  • Users Now Playing:
    157
  • Number of Players:

    Massively Multiplayer, Massively Multiplayer | Offline Modes: Competitive | Online Modes: Competitive

  • Top 5 User Tags:
    1. pirates
    2. mmorpg
    3. burning sea
    4. historic
    5. mmo
  • Teen Rating Description

    Titles rated T (Teen) have content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older. Titles in this category may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, and/or infrequent use of strong language. Learn more

Full Game Details »Close

Related Games

Site Blogs