BioWare has confirmed that Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening, the first official expansion pack to Dragon Age: Origins, will be available for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC on March 16, 2010.

Designed and written by the same Dragon Age: Origin's team, the Awakening expansion pack offers a brand new area of the world to explore known as Amaranthine, and will featuring a story that will allow players to unravel the secrets of the darkspawn - and their true motivation.

Players will face a range of new creatures including an evolved, intelligent breed of darkspawn and other menacing creatures such as the Inferno Golem and Spectral Dragon. It will also provide new ways for players to customise their heroes and party, including the ability to re-spec their character attributes. It will also feature an increased level cap, new spells, abilities, specialisations and items, plus five all-new party members, players can continue their adventures from Dragon Age, or begin with a brand new party.

The story goes...

Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening, follows the events of Dragon Age: Origins and puts players into the role of a Grey Warden Commander entrusted with rebuilding the order of Grey Wardens. In addition to rebuilding the ranks of the Grey Wardens, you will be tasked with uncovering the mystery of how the darkspawn survive after the slaying of the Archdemon dragon. 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. Players will be able to import their character from Dragon Age: Origins or start out as a new Grey Warden from the neighboring land of Orlais.

Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening will be released March 16, 2010 worldwide.