BioWare Announces Dragon Age DLC Will Be Available at Launch

Usually DLC (or downloadable content that’s not sold with the game) is released months after a game hits store shelves as a way to A.) increase the longevity of the game, and B.) get more money from gamers. That’s why we were so surprised by BioWare’s announcement that the DLC for Dragon Age: Origins would be available for free at the same time the official game launches. Sound strange to anyone else?

The “Stone Prisoner” is a DLC package that includes a new quest line and a new Golem character. It will be free to new buyers and $15 for anyone who doesn’t have the code from their Dragon Age purchase. This is a good way to expand the game for users and only ding those who are playing a used or pirated copy of the game. There is a cutoff date, though. If you get the DLC after April 30, you’ll have to pay for it either way. Oh, and the Stone Prisoner DLC also includes a free suit of Blood Dragon Armor, just in case you really want to look, well, bloody.

BioWare is also offering the “Warden’s Keep” download, which allows you to experience a nice old-fashioned dungeon-clearing quest in the castle of the Grey Wardens. It also includes exclusive items and new player abilities. However, this download is $7 to everyone, unless you buy the Digital Deluxe version of the game; then it’s free.

While it may sound strange, it’s actually a great development for consumers. This basically means you get an expanded version of the game at launch and it only penalizes those who borrow or pirate the game. That’s a nice turn of events in the history of gaming DLC.

Also, some unconfirmed sources are saying that much of the Stone Prisoner download is built around a character, called Shale, that was supposed to make it into the official game but didn’t because of various problems. A delay in releasing the game allowed the DLC team and some modders from the Dragon Age community to take the discarded pieces and fashion them into an entire quest. That means Stone Prisoner should be a pretty good addition to the main story and definitely be worth the time to download. Especially considering the price.

Dragon Age: Origins launches November 3.

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