Dragon Age: Origins Expansion Pack 'Awakening' Announced, 'Return to Ostagar' DLC Delayed

BioWare today announced the "first" Dragon Age: Origins expansion, titled 'Awakening' and continuing the fantasy RPG's storyline with new areas and party members in March.

Playing with an existing Dragon Age character or starting afresh as "a new Grey Warden from the neighboring land of Orlais," Awakening will charge players with rebuilding the order and "uncovering the mystery of how the darkspawn survive after the slaying of the Archdemon," BioWare reveals in a press release.

As well as the new world area of 'Amaranthine,' Awakening adds the ability to re-spec characters, "an increased level cap, new spells, abilities, specializations and items, plus five all-new party members" and naturally new enemies, including "an evolved, intelligent breed of darkspawn," Inferno Golems and Spectral Dragons.

"How players choose to rebuild their order, resolve the conflict with the mysterious 'Architect,' and determine the fate of the darkspawn are just some of the many intriguing moral choices that will shape each player's heroic journey," teases BioWare.

Requiring the original game, Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening is scheduled for a March 16 worldwide release on PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 at the princely price of $40.

A new downloadable content pack 'Return to Ostagar' was originally slated to hit PC and Xbox 360 today but has been delayed for an unknown period of time. Thanks Kentor.