Dragon Age II platinum, Mass Effect 2 PC being offered for free

Given that its predecessor, Dragon Age: Origins, sold in excess of 3 million units, there was little doubt that Dragon Age II would also be a hit. So it wasn't a major surprise when BioWare announced today that the sequel has sold over 1 million units since its March 8 launch in North America. According to the Canadian developer, the follow-up reached the milestone at a faster rate than its forebear.

As a token of appreciation for its fans, BioWare is offering past and future purchasers of any new edition of Dragon Age II a free digital download of another of its hit role-playing games, Mass Effect 2. (This includes the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC editions of Dragon Age II.) The offer is good only for the PC edition of the latter title, which was released in early 2010 alongside the Xbox 360 edition of the game. (A PlayStation 3 version launched earlier this year.) Instructions on how to download the free edition of Mass Effect 2 can be found on the official Dragon Age II website. Anyone who previously purchased Dragon Age II on any platform should receive an e-mail explaining how they also can get Mass Effect 2 for free.

Published by BioWare owner Electronic Arts, Dragon Age II tells the story of Hawke, a survivor of the Blight that ravaged the first game. Set over a 10-year period, it chronicles his transformation from "a destitute refugee to the revered champion of the land." Although Hawke gains fame as the Champion of Kirkwall, the game will peer into his mysterious rise to power. The game also features new combat mechanics for the game's three classes: mage, warrior, and rogue.

For more on the game, check out GameSpot's full review.