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“Unfortunately, Steam has adopted a set of restrictive terms of service which limit how developers interact with customers to sell downloadable content,” said EA’s David DeMartini in a statement to Eurogamer. “No other download service has adopted this practice.”

Dragon Age II is the latest in a series of EA-published games to be removed from Steam. Other games deemed by Valve to be in violation of Steams terms of service include Alice: Madness Returns and Crysis 2.

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Developer BioWare describes Legacy as “major, story-based DLC.”

“Targeted by a vicious criminal cartel that are hunting 'the blood of the Hawke,' you must put an end to their relentless attacks.

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Even a casual glance at Dragon Age II appears to show mainstream compromise, with a more linear plot, and a stronger emphasis on combat. You won’t be building a character from the origin up this time around. Instead, you’re given the reins to one developer BioWare has built for you. His (or her) name is Hawke, a penniless refugee of the same Darkspawn Blight that your Grey Warden fought in Dragon Age: Origins.

The setting isn’t the only change. A dialogue wheel has made an appearance, and Hawke has a voice. The Qunari look less human than before, and the Dalish elves have managed to collectively pick up Welsh accents, but these changes fit the world that developers BioWare built. Setting a consistent accent gives the Dalish a unique feel that was lacking in Origins, where everyone seemed like they were generic dwarf, or generic not-dwarf.

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In the demo, players will venture through the game's prologue, choosing from three different character classes. They'll also learn more about Hawke and hone their skills and abilities that will make them the ultimate hero. After finishing the prologue, players will enter a key new location in the world of Dragon Age, Kirkwall, befriending Isabela, a romantic interest in the game who is also a deadly smuggler.

Upon completion of the demo, players will unlock a special weapon, Hayder's Razor, an ancient dwarven blade which increases health, mana, and combat abilities, in the full release of Dragon Age II.

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In it, players will be able to go through the game’s prologue and choose from one of three classes. Upon finishing the prologue, “players will enter a key new location in the world of Dragon Age, Kirkwall, befriending Isabela, a romantic interest in the game who is also a deadly smuggler.”

Players who complete the demo will also unlock a magical weapon, Hayder’s Razor, “an ancient dwarven blade which increases health, mana, and combat abilities, in the full release of Dragon Age II.”

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Speaking on the game’s official forums, game producer Fernando Melo wrote, “We'll have more info on this closer to release.”

There is no game disc check and no upward limit on how many times the game can be installed, although you won’t be able to install it on more than five machines in 24 hours.

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BioWare, the creators of Dragon Age: Origins, have not been resting on their laurels and while Dragon Age 2 is still clearly a work in progress, already it’s apparent that the sequel features significant changes. Yesterday I met with Heather Rabatich in Electronic Arts’ Syndey offices to have a crack at what will become the introduction and to discover just how far reaching BioWare’s reimagining will be.

The difference between Origins and its sequel is immediately evident as soon as players take control of Hawke, the protagonist. In this instance, Hawke is a female rogue, and with her sister, a mage, she is set upon by hordes of Darkspawn.

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