All has been quiet on the Burnout front in the last few months, but reports that the game is more or less complete and ready to go have been backed by the announcement of the North American release date of January 22nd.

However, European gamers have yet to hear when the Xbox 360 and PS3 racer will hit consoles on this side of the Atlantic. Still, EA has said that 360 gamers, at least, should expect a demo some time in December.

"The Burnout series has always been about reinvention. Burnout Paradise does exactly that," Criterion’s creative director Alex Ward stated. "This is the definitive Burnout experience because Paradise removes all restrictions, breaks all the rules and puts the control in your hands.

"We're taking risks with Paradise but we believe that every iteration of Burnout stands on its own and we feel Paradise is the best Burnout yet.”

Burnout Paradise sees the series ditch its established level-based progression in favour of an open world, free-roaming environment.