Electronic Arts and BioWare have officially announced that the sequel to last year’s critically acclaimed new IP Dragon Age: Origins is in development. Action RPG enthusiasts around the world will be able to get their fix of new role-playing goodness as soon as March 2011.

Promising to one-up the original with “more action, a new, more responsive combat system and a dynamic story that is already among the most multifaceted in gaming,” Dragon Age 2 tells the tale of Hawke, a survivor of the Blight and the Champion of Kirkwall who will change the universe of Dragon Age as you know it in some significant ways.

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.

Said Dr. Ray Muzyka, Senior Vice President of Electronic Arts and co-founder and Group General Manager of BioWare:

“Last year’s launch of Dragon Age: Origins was one of the most successful in BioWare’s 15-year history and one of the most successful new IP launches in the 28 year history of EA. Dragon Age 2 will simultaneously deliver an epic story and set a new bar for intense action in the genre. We’re very excited to deliver this next bold evolution in the Dragon Age franchise to our fans.”

Said Dragon Age 2 Executive Producer Mark Darrah:

“With Dragon Age 2 we are creating an exciting new entry point into the Dragon Age universe while ensuring that fans of the original game retain a sense of satisfaction and familiarity in the world. We are amplifying the things that made Dragon Age: Origins such a huge success while introducing a more dynamic combat system, improving the graphics, and telling the most important story in our world.”

According to the game’s website, we’ll get to see the debut trailer on August 17.