Dragon Age getting DLC expansion on day one

All-new Warden's Keep add-on will launch alongside dark fantasy RPG Nov. 3; Stone Prisoner and Blood Armor also available immediately; first trailers inside.

Dragon Age: Origins

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With Dragon Age: Origins' November 3 launch less than a month away, developer BioWare has unveiled its initial downloadable content plans for the game. Unlike with the role-playing game developer's previous project, the acclaimed sci-fi adventure Mass Effect, players won't have to wait long to expand the upcoming dark fantasy.

They won't have to wait at all, in fact.

BioWare today announced that Dragon Age: Origins will get its first downloadable expansion on day one. Called the Warden's Keep, the DLC will add a dungeon-based quest to the game along with six new abilities, a variety of items, and a base where players can trade with merchants. It will feature a supernatural storyline set in an ancient--and possibly haunted--fortress once used as a redoubt by the Grey Wardens, the ancient order at the center of Origins' main storyline. (A magic suit of Grey Warden armor will be one of the items in the add-on.)

The Warden's Keep will be available for MSP 560 ($7) on Xbox Live Marketplace and $7 on the PC on November 3. It will cost the same price on the PlayStation Store when the PlayStation 3 version of Dragon Age goes on sale later in November. It is not included with the regular or Collector's Edition of Dragon Age: Origins, although it is included in the Deluxe Digital Edition offered by online retailers. For a sneak peek, peruse the trailer below:

Besides revealing the Warden's Keep, BioWare announced that two pieces of previously announced DLC will also be available when Dragon Age: Origins goes on sale. First up is the $15 (1,200 MSP) add-on The Stone Prisoner, which is free to anyone who has preordered or buys any edition of Dragon Age new. (It will be included with digital PC editions, with retail copies coming with a download code.) As seen in the video below, the pack will add a stone golem character to the player's party from the beginning of the game, unlocking numerous story options.

"The way that the character works in Dragon Age is they're along in your party, they're interjecting throughout the game, they're talking with other characters in your party, they're commenting on areas as you visit them," executive producer Mark Darrah told GameSpot. "So, in one way, it's 60 hours or 70 hours of content because if you put this character in your party right away, it's going to enrich it and affect your experience throughout the entire game."

Dragon Age: Origins' last piece of day-one DLC is the previously announced Blood Armor, which is also included at no cost with new copies of the game. As shown in the video below, it will provide upgraded protection for players wishing to deflect the swords and missiles of opponents in the game. As an added bonus, it will also be wearable in Mass Effect 2, due out early next year.

970 Comments

  • shrap393

    Posted Nov 13, 2009 10:46 am PT

    Look this is what it boils down to:
    If you have DLC from RELEASE ready to go, then you need to give people a code to get all that content FOR (yes) FREE. You didnt meet deadling, not customers problem. ALL this DLC thats available at release was SUPPOSED to be in the original campagin, wtf are you trying to make us buy what should have been free (see the part about not customers' fault you cant meet your deadlines) Not if they were smart they'd have released this stuff in December for the holidays instead of making it seem like they have ALLLL this cool DLC ready at the start. Isnt this a 60+ hr game? Who needs extra content so early on? PEOPLE WHO WANT EXTRA STORAGE (read EVERYONE) So how unfortunate that you 'ran out of time' to add something ALL players need in an rpg of this size (extra storage) yet, Magically you were able to get it all packaged and available for release...for a small additional charge. How fkn convenient.
    The taint of EA has been smeared across BioWare now. Well I guess when you sleep with filthy disgusting corporate dogs, you eventually wake up with blood sucking fleas, dont you?

  • Humorguy_basic

    Posted Nov 9, 2009 6:45 am PT

    Kaos - yes you can.

    Although I think, based on many rumours, that we are getting things back via DLC that were in the game (at least on PC) 6 months ago,

  • jetfreakist

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 1:03 am PT

    B)

  • Kaos_Losstarot

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 12:27 pm PT

    Ok I have a really odd question here: if i buy Dragon Age for PC can I unlock the Blood Dragon Armor on a Mass Effect 2 for X360? This is really bugging me...

  • Darkfire22

    Posted Nov 3, 2009 1:47 am PT

    my 360 red ringed...I have nothing to trade in...and no method of getting additional cash...I think I'm going to cry

  • scyldschefing

    Posted Nov 2, 2009 3:40 pm PT

    Ack, I didn't realize that the Warden's Keep isn't included in the physical Collector's Edition and only in the Deluxe Digital Edition.

    Oh well, at least I'll be receiving the other stuff for free. Can't wait!

  • P0T

    Posted Nov 1, 2009 5:39 am PT

    Just to note about DLC - games are locked by a certain point. As in there can be no additional content due to the need for testing and rating. All that can be done is basic polish work. For Dragon Age the game was locked down in early spring, before the big delay. During this delay, while programmers are polishing the game and porting it to consoles, the designers are free to do their own thing. Some of them went on to finish cut content (Stone Prisoner, which is available for free for new copies) while others became part of the DLC team created. The latter had a new budget separate from that of the main game, hence the need for actual payment. People don't work for free, unfortunately.

    The delay upon delay ended up pushing the game so far back that the game is now being released after the DLC for it was finished - only recently within the last couple weeks. While they could have lied and delayed it for a couple weeks to look better, it was decided having the content available sooner for players was the best option. So they're releasing it right away.

  • joecwild

    Posted Oct 30, 2009 6:23 pm PT

    I got the Digital Deluxe Edition from Direct2Drive

  • noodles297

    Posted Oct 29, 2009 7:37 am PT

    Ha! 560 MP finally I have something worthwhile to spend my remaining 720 MP on. Yea...I was dumb enough to buy some stupid gamer pic and that screwed me from buying any good DLC lol.

  • Fearless62

    Posted Oct 29, 2009 3:32 am PT

    Phuu!! I don't get it. I see some don't like DLC, some think its great, well let me see I am right here with games that don't have DLC are not worth buying and better yet they need a construction set. DLC and a construction set means more game play then the content of the game the day it was made. I have been playing TES 4 now for 2 years on and off. Yep down load free content that some else makes.I mod my game for day or 2 getting ready and jam. I would never buy any game that don't have both out of box RPG's are BS, it needs the mods to make it worth anything. Whats 60 hours? I have added 60 to 70 hours of game play to My TES game already not counting expansions. I have replayed the game 6 times 3 different starts and 3 charters that never came with he game 100s of weapons landscape GUI mods and you guys want to wine about DLC WOW its a no brainier DLC bring it ON or stay home. They could however forget the console stuff because the cheesy GUI they have use for consoles is a drag and always ruins the game. RPG's are for the PC. I had a PS3 it was and is worthless the games all where for the fishes. You can't pack a $1500 gaming machine in to a $300 Console Just like without DLC you don't get a game you can play for 2 years and make it different each time. So there is my $1.50s worth skipped right past the 2 cents

  • SopranosFan

    Posted Oct 28, 2009 4:36 pm PT

    As long as the game on the disc is lengthy and entertaining I don't care if they release a dozen DLC on release date. If they give me a 5 hour game and then expect me to pay more for a DLC on day 1 then that is a problem but most people are saying this is going to be 30-70 hours I believe that is a fair amount for $60 considering Halo 3:ODST charged $60 for a 4 hour expansion. I also agree the free content is to try to slow down second hand sales and once again I say good for them. It allows you to get it second hand if you want but it does give you a very nice incentive to pay the extra $5-10 to get the new copy instead.

  • Dominicobaggio

    Posted Oct 24, 2009 12:50 pm PT

    Just read your comments Cabaji_Ec, you are so right

  • Dominicobaggio

    Posted Oct 24, 2009 12:47 pm PT

    An expansion free to everyone who buys the game and who gets a copy and everyone.

    So... Its not an expansion is it?

    Really these are just extra chapters, shouldnt they all be free with the game if they are already ready. Maybe im being negative though.. depends how deep the orignal game is. Waiting patiently for the reviews!!

  • ElderonWise

    Posted Oct 23, 2009 1:01 pm PT

    These expansions are all cool, shame the keep has a price tag

  • Cabaji_Ec

    Posted Oct 16, 2009 1:20 pm PT

    ps for adamwriter

    i saw all the previews and the teasers for this game, i played over the years and bioware always make one nice final product, all the games i played were a lot of fun, but this game looks a lot like oblivion...maybe it make a lot better, but the knights, castles, war, magic....of course it could look a lot like dungeon and dragons, might and magic...and definitely its that kind of game the difference its BIOWARE version of it...and that makes it worthwhile and incredible....but the influence..the influence....

  • Cabaji_Ec posted Oct 16, 2009 1:06 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Cabaji_Ec

    Posted Oct 16, 2009 1:06 pm PT (hide)

    Well, im guessing the developers are already finding that dual layer dvds in the xbox system are not enough to put the whole game!...so HOW i am gonna fix that...mmm ok maybe i make a game in two dvds..infinite undiscovery, magna carta 2, or another rpg...so after a while thinking they came with a clever
    idea ..LETS MAKE DLC..and lets make the users pays us with extra missions that cant fit in a 7.3 gb disc...so its easy...for pc people nah dont care make more dlc too..and ps3 blue ray?..mmm nah make for them too...lets make a standar of this

    So i make one game with 30 missions....so in the disc just enter 20?..how can that be you fu... morons...what the h..im gonna do with u...im gonna fire u....you piece of....

    Lets make 10 dlc extra over a year...hows that...YEAH you are a genius im gonna give u a promotion...you are now more near the window...move your seat...

    Another genius says...hey i can make them fit in the disc..we can...SHUT UP you ...fu...baboom....fire him FIRE HIM!!...lets go with the window guy idea....

  • Blargsman

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 1:30 pm PT

    Anything to expand the Dragon Age universe is a plus in my book.

    Something that BioWare had forgot to do with Mass Effect...

  • Evilnator

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 10:41 am PT

    Im rather happy that they are going the "buy new" thing, its so much more profitable for them, and bioware, as great as it is can finally get more of it's deserved money,

  • Kyotain

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 6:03 am PT

    -_-
    I would rather them just not tell us about it so it doesn't look like they're money-hungry. I hate how so many games now have DLC in development alongside the actual game. Just put it in the game! It seems like a slow slide into the Fable 2 chapters idea. Though, I have to admit, a free $15 DLC for those who buy it new is a good idea.

  • farrlinn

    Posted Oct 14, 2009 2:06 pm PT

    We are about five years away from games being down loadable only.

  • Carnas

    Posted Oct 14, 2009 11:16 am PT

    Is it all about profit? Of course it is.

    But what I find funny is how people will complain about this, but willingly pay $20+ for a bag of 2 cent popcorn at the movies etc.

  • BrutalPandaX2 posted Oct 14, 2009 8:15 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    BrutalPandaX2

    Posted Oct 14, 2009 8:15 am PT (hide)

    EWWWW. DLC on day 1? EWWWW. I just looked this game up but now I'm looking no further. There are executives having the giggles, laughing at you people who believe this is OK or even better, a bonus. The game industry is changing as much as the radio did. Companies are releasing poop and forcing it upon you with amazing ratings (8.0+) *cough* Dead Rising *cough* STOP LIVING THROUGH RATINGS AND STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST GAMES! THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF GAMES THAT ARE GREAT AND YOU HAVE NOT TRIED YET AND ARE VERY CHEAP.

    PS. Online games are a joke after Ultima and no, I am not old. go get some friends and get your skill up in reading or basketball.

  • Allbritt0n

    Posted Oct 14, 2009 5:09 am PT

    Why r there not gameplay vids yet?

  • topsemag55

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 6:10 am PT

    I pre-ordered the Deluxe Digital version last night. Impulse even gave me a coupon worth $13.00 off. Not a bad deal at all.

  • Humorguy_basic

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 3:55 am PT

    Oh - and to the posters talking about making money to make up for second hand sales, if that's the case, why do PC games all get reduced in price BY THE PUBLISHERS three months after release, and within a year put it on a budget label? I mean, Fallout 3 was reduced by over 50% by Bethesda a little more than 6 months after release! It seems to me that REAL RPG's are so few and far between that they should never be reduced. How many gamers only got around to getting NWN after they started finding out about all the mods? They probably got the game for $15 by the time they got around to getting it, but I bet they would have paid more! After all, if you want to get a classic sci-fi novel, written in the 1950's, is the bookstore going to have it for 15 cents because it's so old? Quite simply, classics like X-Com and Thief and Deus Ex should still be on sale by the original publishers for $30 or so. This would give them worth. But as long as publishers are so quick to reduce PC titles, I think all this BS about second-hand sales is a lot of hot air!!!

  • Humorguy_basic

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 3:29 am PT

    Nice to know PC gamers had to wait 6 months just so we could be fleeced from day one! Quite simply, it is disgusting to have DLC available the same day as the full game is released! Who can argue that it could not have been folded into the full game, making it better value for money! This absolute arrogance is putting me off getting Dragon Age, as I am feeling at this moment that it would just make me feel I was supporting a corrupt system and an ever more money grubbing publisher that I used to have so much faith in back in the day!

  • Xirmi

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 2:38 am PT

    According to the GameInformer review, there's at least 40 hours of gameplay (that is if you're a speed demon) and about 70 if you're thorough. The additional content, some of it free, even, will make it longer.

  • Toxic22

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 2:26 am PT

    Is it me or does Warden Keep sound like its going to be similar to Watchers keep from Baldurs Gate II? It would be pritty awesome if they remade Baldur's Gate as DLC for dragon age.

  • Bullshifty12

    Posted Oct 12, 2009 11:50 pm PT

    A couple of FREE DLCs and one you can pay for.

    What the hell are you people complaining about? This game is probably going to be quite lengthy, regardless of DLC or not.

  • mrclutch87

    Posted Oct 12, 2009 11:48 pm PT

    i wonder which will be better demon souls or dragon age origins

  • dchase2k8

    Posted Oct 12, 2009 11:13 pm PT

    Don't you think it's a bit naive on our part to assume this excuse that "the game-delay is causing us to release DLC on day 1" is the truth?

    EA is constantly pushing the envelope to see how much the market is willing to accept, and not only do people accept it, but even more surprising they turn around and defend it.

    I'm looking forward to the days when MS points replace in-game currency. You want that epic sword? 150 MS pts. You want that potion? 25 MS pts.

    ::sigh::

  • DarkFireGod69

    Posted Oct 12, 2009 9:14 pm PT

    Oh for the love of god people will you all learn how to read!
    It has been explained many many times.

    "Its not in the game because as stated many times it was cut from the game.
    The game was to come out for the PC back in March of this year.
    It was then Delayed but the content on the disc was already locked in. So in the 7 months it was delayed the team doing DLC finished some of the content that was cut from the game and now the Stone Prisoner, which sells at $15 is actually free in ALL new copies of DAO. and Wardens Keep is only $7 and is free to those who buy the CE version form a digital download type of site. (Stream, Direct 2 Download) as a replacement for stuff they dont get that the Boxed CE version does. (Tin Case, Cloth Map, Soundtrack ext.)
    So they really are not ripping you off. Infact they are giving out bonuses for those of us who buy it new"

  • MockStar

    Posted Oct 12, 2009 9:05 pm PT

    @Judakel - Actually I saw this as them trying to help New title retail sales. They are giving most of this away free with a new game to entice people away from buying used games. And if somone buys used, they can can get the DLC at a cost, so the developer can actually profit from a used game sale now.

  • HuSSaR83

    Posted Oct 12, 2009 4:54 pm PT

    Wish European company made this game, we all would save mad money.

  • Judakel

    Posted Oct 12, 2009 4:40 pm PT

    By the way, if they are shooting for a trilogy, shouldn't they be saving all this extra content for the next installment? Are they that confident that their cliched story will have enough to stretch past three full-length titles?

  • Judakel

    Posted Oct 12, 2009 4:37 pm PT

    The fact that DLC (a content delivery system originally meant to extend the life of a game) is being delivered on day one shows that the developers of this game have very little faith in the long term for this title. The most exciting thing about this game is that its failure may finally cause developers to move past the numbers and rolls system of RPGs that has long run its course. While such mechanics were a necessity in times when the computing power just was not there to deliver real-time combat on the scale most RPGs required ,today that is no longer the case for single player games.

  • Cruorem

    Posted Oct 12, 2009 2:48 pm PT

    @sammoth
    One - cars are a lot cheaper to produce compared to the price charged.
    Two - Houses don't exactly have to be innovative.

    Games are expected to be innovative and take a lot of time to produce, increasingly so as the technology becomes more advanced. Frankly it's a lot easier to create your examples than a game.
    Also, one can expect to keep your examples for years while games are often re-sold a few days after they're bought. A much higher turnover than houses or cars which obviously means that people will think "well why the hell should I buy a £39.99/$59.99 game when I can get the same thing cheaper second hand?

  • ShiroKitaHoshi

    Posted Oct 12, 2009 9:19 am PT

    On the DragonAge Forums the DLC on day one was explained.

    The team developing the game is SEPERATE from the team developing the DLC. The game was originally supposed to be released in October. Sadly, as we all know - it was delayed.
    That is why there is DLC on day one. BTW: The best place for info is the BioWare forums - the BioWare team will sometimes answer fan complaints directly.

  • PumpkinBoogie

    Posted Oct 12, 2009 8:33 am PT

    Wow....downloadable content available on day 1....amazing! /sarcasm

    Hmm...damn, whatever happen to actually putting in the game the FIRST time around? I mean, I'm all for dlc, but the fact they happen to have some content already available for dling when the game comes out kinda just makes it look like either 1) their trying to instantly milk more money or 2) incredibly lazy as hell on the developers end. Not exactly sure which is worse, yet it does seem a bit tacky of Bioware to do...

    Maybe if they'd waited a month or so it wouldn't seem so bad, but the very day the game is released?? Wow....ballsy, Bioware.

  • Webrider

    Posted Oct 12, 2009 8:24 am PT

    Main quest $50, if you turn right or left please send us $7 per turn or sub quest. It will also cost you $3 for every item you pick up along the way. Just give us your credit card number with purchase.

  • sammoth

    Posted Oct 12, 2009 7:52 am PT

    @Cruorem
    """"It has been a common gripe among publishers for many a year that they don't receive any money from second-hand sales, a gripe which I think is justified, considering how much it costs to make a damned good game these days""".

    What ??? So If you put up your car for sale should the manufaturer of the car make a profit off of it. Better yet you try to sell your house and have to fork overe any profit you make to the Original maker of the house. WOW your Logic make no sense.

  • Cruorem

    Posted Oct 11, 2009 9:24 pm PT

    I don't know if anyone's said this, there are a lot of long winded posts but asides from milking the cash cow this also encourages people to buy a new version of the game, which obviously gets the publisher more money. It has been a common gripe among publishers for many a year that they don't receive any money from second-hand sales, a gripe which I think is justified, considering how much it costs to make a damned good game these days.

  • DarkFireGod69

    Posted Oct 11, 2009 8:31 pm PT

    @ jmrwacko
    lol
    I almost died laughing at the complete absurdity of your post.
    I guess the DLC team could have held on the the dlc for 6 more months, but then the people who get this as a bouns for getting the digital CE version of DAO would have been extremely pissed off, because they would have had to wait for their free download or alot of us who bought the Boxed version of the game would have been pissed that we were not allowed to purchase Wardens Keep on day one if they allowed the people to get it on day one from the digital downloads.... All it is, is BW trying to be fair.
    We get the Blood Dragon Armor and The Stone Prisoner DLC FREE with purchase of any NEW DAO game. People who get the CE version as digital download get Wardens keep for free to make up for not getting the collectable tin case or cloth map or what ever goodies that are not really downloadable that are in the boxed versions.
    If its available for them on day one it means that its available, and all BW is doing is allowing us, the ones who got a boxed version, to also have access too this dlc as well. Of course we would have to pay for it. We got our bonus items already. why should BW give us even more just because they are giving it to the DD CE versions? They shouldnt.

    While I dont agree with some of EA's nickle and dimeing (NFS dlc's to name one) This is not nickle and dimeing its allowing every access to the same content as every one else.

  • jmrwacko

    Posted Oct 11, 2009 7:22 pm PT

    There's only one reason to release paid DLC in concurrence with a game's launch, and that's to milk the cow. I guess that's expected, EA probably forced Bioware to commit the DLC crime as a publishing initiation rite.

  • Shika_Stoner

    Posted Oct 11, 2009 7:08 pm PT

    If you still want to argue here's the link. http://dragonage.bioware.com/addon/#wardenscall Cut out the middle man and complain to them.

    Joining is easy and it's a good community.

  • Shika_Stoner

    Posted Oct 11, 2009 7:08 pm PT

    All right listen up humans and human like creatures. You are about to find out what exactly comes with the Warden's Keep DLC. Straight from Bioware.com



    "Some claim the fortress of Soldier's Peak is corrupted and overrun by demons. Others whisper of betrayal and the spirits of murdered Grey Wardens. Whatever the truth, Soldier's Peak is no place for the living.

    Relive the darkest hour of the Grey Wardens with all-new content that adds to the main Dragon Age: Origins campaign. This downloadable adventure reveals secrets hidden for generations, and includes unique achievements, unlockable character abilities, powerful items, and much more"!

    CONTENT"S INCLUDE.

    :New quests - discover what really happened to the Grey Wardens of old and what led to their expulsion from Ferelden.

    :New features - a base of operations with party storage. Inventory full? Stash new items as well as loot from the main Dragon Age: Origins campaign.

    :New items and abilities - talents and spells from the Power of Blood school, unique achievements, and powerful items including a set of Grey Warden Commander armor.

    This DLC is NO more essential to finishing the campaign than the Fighter's Stronghold, the Wizard's Tower, the Vile Lair or the Pirates Cave were to completing OBLIVION'S campaign.

    It's just a few new quests, items, spells and an awesome fort to use as a base of operations and storage for your party. If you don't want them then don't buy them. They aren't essential.

  • d4v1dbow13

    Posted Oct 11, 2009 6:54 pm PT

    Rofl drama posts. Looks sweet idk if ill get the dlc tho.

  • arkadiyk

    Posted Oct 11, 2009 5:31 pm PT

    this game is sick is an understatment

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