Coming on the heels of their latest DLC, Bioware has officially announced the sequel to the critically acclaimed Dragon Age: Origins.  There have been plenty of hints indicating its development and release, but details were kept under lock and key. It looks like Bioware is aiming to continue their dominance of the RPG genre with a supposed much improved sequel.  Game Informer has the scoop in their upcoming August issue.

Experience the epic sequel to the 2009 Game of the Year from the critically acclaimed makers of Dragon Age: Origins and Mass Effect 2. You are one of the few who escaped the destruction of your home. Now, forced to fight for survival in an ever-changing world, you must gather the deadliest of allies, amass fame and fortune, and seal your place in history. This is the story of how the world changed forever. The legend of your Rise to Power begins now.

Key Features:

• Embark upon an all-new adventure that takes place across an entire decade and shapes itself around every decision you make.
• Determine your rise to power from a destitute refugee to the revered champion of the land.
• Think like a general and fight like a Spartan with dynamic new combat mechanics that put you right in the heart of battle whether you are a mage, rogue, or warrior.
• Go deeper into the world of Dragon Age with an entirely new cinematic experience that grabs hold of you from the beginning and never lets go.
• Discover a whole realm rendered in stunning detail with updated graphics and a new visual style.

Suprisingly, Bioware is forgoing its Mass Effect formula of importing characters and introducing a new hero for this chapter.  However, it resembles its sci-fi counterpart in that you will take on the role of a particular character named Hawke, who can be customized from class to gender.  It will also take place in a different part of the world with some new adventures to accompany you.

Pre-Orders have already started for the slated February 1, 2011 release date.

[via Game Informer & Bioware]