The time is almost upon us to take to the salty seas and engage in all sorts of shenanigans. With Rare’s pirate simulator set to arrive in just two months, gamers have begun to gear up for the adventures that lie ahead… literally. That being said, a Sea of Thieves closed beta has been announced for the game, and it is expected to arrive very soon.

In a recent announcement, it was revealed that the Sea of Thieves closed beta will begin on January 24 at 12pm GMT and remain in effect until 8am GMT on January 29. Five days isn’t nearly enough to go full-on pirate, but it is plenty of time to get those sea legs ready. There might even be a deck or two that needs a good swabbing. Either way, the full game will not be released during the closed testing, but that is to be expected.

The closed beta for Sea of Thieves will be available to everyone that joined the game’s Insider Program before December 1, 2017. All who have pre-ordered the title will also gain access to the beta, so if you missed out on joining the aforementioned program, grab yourself a pre-order soon so you can join in on the pirating fun. As an added bonus, the upcoming testing period will not be covered by a non-disclosure agreement(NDA), meaning players will be able to stream, share videos, and tell everyone about their open sea adventures.

Sea of Thieves is set to arrive on March 20 for PC and Xbox One. Keep it tuned to Don’t Feed the Gamers as this story develops, and for other gaming news, check out the following:

• The Game Boy Is Coming Back Better Than Ever – Expected To Release This Year
• Xbox One Career System Bringing New Challenges and Loot Crates For Avatars
• WATCH: New Lordbound Mod Trailer Drops For The Upcoming Fan-Made Skyrim Expansion

What say you, gamers? Are you looking forward to setting sail early, or will you be waiting until March? What sort of shenanigans do you expect to get into with the upcoming game? Sound off in the comments section below, and be sure to follow DFTG on Twitter for live gaming and entertainment news 24/7!