Flying Lab just revealed the date for the game's switch to free-to-play.

Last month was a time of change for Pirates of the Burning Sea. Flying Lab Software released the game's first expansion, Power & Prestige, and then immediately followed it by announcing that the MMO will become free-to-play this fall. Well, it looks like we now have a date for the F2P change: November 22.

Alright, so technically it's "on our around" November 22. The team just sent out a customer service notification to past and present players of the game to let them know that Pirates of the Burning Sea is going free-to-play next month, but there will also be the option of subscribing to the Captain's Club at $14.99 per month to gain access to premium content.

More information on the upcoming membership plans can be found in the customer service announcement below or on the Pirates of the Burning Sea site. You can also check out our recent interview with Design Department Lead Declan O'Connell to find out why FLying Lab is switching to the free-to-play model.

Dear Current and Former Pirates of the Burning Sea™ Subscribers,

This e-mail is to inform you of upcoming changes to your Pirates of the Burning Sea™ ("PotBS") account. On or around November 22, 2010, PotBS will become a free to play game, with an optional monthly membership plan called the Captain’s Club at a cost of $14.99 per month (plus applicable taxes). This means that new PotBS players will no longer need to purchase the game client or a subscription to access and play much of the game. However, certain premium content will only be available to Captain’s Club members, Premium Players, or must be purchased from Treasure Aisle, the in-game store.

Current Subscribers

If you are currently a subscriber on a monthly, 3 month, 6 month or 12 month subscription plan* that will continue to be in effect after the game goes free to play, your current subscription will continue at the same price until it expires, and you will automatically go from being a PotBS subscriber to becoming a member of the Captain’s Club. As an active member of the Captain’s Club with an account in good standing, you will have access to certain premium content, features and discounts that are unavailable to non-members.

After your current subscription plan expires, you will automatically become a Premium Player and can play without paying a monthly subscription fee, but will lose access to Captain’s Club premium content, features, and discounts (which may be available for purchase from Treasure Aisle, the in-game store), unless and until you log into your Station Account to change your preferences to become a Captain’s Club member at a cost of $14.99 per month (plus applicable taxes). You can change your preferences before your current subscription plan expires, or you can wait until after your current subscription plan expires.

For details on what content and features are available to Captain’s Club members, Premium Players, and new players, please visit our website.

Station Access Subscribers

If you are a Station Access subscriber with an account in good standing when PotBS goes free to play, you will automatically become a Captain’s Club member, and you will continue to pay your regular monthly Station Access fee unless or until you cancel. If you cancel your Station Account, you will become a Premium Player.

Former Subscribers

If you are a former subscriber and your account was not banned or terminated, the first time you log into the game after it goes free to play, you will automatically be a Premium Player, and will receive access to the certain premium content and features at no cost. You can become a Captain’s Club member at any time by joining the Captain’s Club at $14.99 per month (plus applicable taxes).

For details on what content and features are available to Captain’s Club members, Premium Players, and new players, please visit our website.

*3, 6 and 12 month subscription plans are currently no longer available for purchase.