GameBanshee let us know they have a review of Drakensang 2: Phileasson's Secret, the easily overlooked expansion for The River of Time. The result is mixed and here's a sample from the article penned by Brother None:

The Dark Eye pen and paper players will probably get more out of the setting because they come in with the right questions, such as “how can this town even exist at this time?”, whereas new players don't automatically get the same sense, and the add-on doesn't do a great job setting up the location and its importance, or the importance of what the player is doing. Gradually it becomes clear that you have a part to play in the struggle against the Nameless One, but at the same time not everything is what it seems, both in people's allegiances, motivations and the nature of the setting. The problem is that while the plot is interesting, it seems somewhat incidental, largely delivered in dialog chunks at the start and end of each trip back to Tie'Shianna. This is less than ideal to keep the player's attention, and doesn't feel particularly rewarding or interactive, which ruins what could potentially have been a pretty good story.

Drakensang fans will be pleased to hear the Drakensang: River of Time expansion Phileasson's Secret has been quietly released through most of the major digital channels for NA. Steam, Impulse and Direct2Drive have the game for $9.99. It's North America only, which means it doesn't even show up for me, so that's all I can tell you.

Thanks to Capt. Huggy Face and GameBanshee for writing in.

Don't take this as definite confirmation but GameBanshee has noticed a listing for the Drakensang: The River of Time expansion Phileasson's Secret at GamersGate. If correct, it looks like we might see it on May 13th, which is certainly a surprise.

Yes, I know, you want dates for the English version of Drakensang: TRoT.  Instead, we have news the Spanish release of the expansion for is set for November 25th.

Thanks, Alrik!

Sir_Brennus points out the first review of Drakensang: Phileasson's Secret that we've come across, with GameStar handing down a low 55%.  The article is German, of course, but a quick Google translation yields a summary that says the addon achieves "no semblance of the quality of the original game".

...and probably the rest of the DACH territory two days before the scheduled release date...

Alrik sends in these DraSa: Phileasson's Secret updates (German).

• New trailer and a description of the "horde" of the Nameless God
• Win a copy of the CE and/or Add-on

Here's a collection of Drakensang: Phileasson's Secrets updates - mostly ones we've overlooked from the official website (German, of course).

• Screens at Drakensang fan site
• History of the Elves
• Short history of the High Elven town of Tie'Shianna
• Overview of the Philleasson Saga

...and comments from dtp community rep Betty on meeting some of the elves discussed above and High Elves.

Thanks, Alrik!

dtp sends word they've contracted Reiner Schöne for the voice of Phileasson in the upcoming add-on to the exellent Drakensang: The River of Time.

You may not know the name, but you probably know the face and certainly know the voice. Mr Schöne is a veteran actor with a couple of interesting credits in his IMDB filmography. After a lead role in the funny italo-western The Return of Sabata with Lee van Cleef he played one of the key roles in the legendary mini-series Return to Treasure Island and went on to score guest staring roles in just about every cool or geeky TV series from Simon & Simon over MacGyver, Star Trek: TNG and Babylon 5 to JAG.
His voice work includes Batman Beyond (Engl.), Darth Vader (German) in Revenge of the Sith, and if you want also the lead role in the German Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar productions.

Exellent choice, the guy has an outstanding voice. But why not hire him for the English version too?!

After the interview with Radon Labs' new owner Bigpoint suggested also the Drakensang 2 addon Phileasson's Secret has been part of the deal, amazon.de's product page now still states dtp as publisher and claims the release date will be august 20th (German speaking territories only)...

It's a bit frustrating to see screens for an addon to a game with no English release date but at least they're pretty.  Check them out at VoodooExtreme.

German printmag Gamestar has posted a short interview with Jan Wergin from Bigpoint, the company that acquired Radon Labs last week. The interview is in German language of course, but key information is:

a) Bigpoint obviously acquired Philleassons Secret also, which will be completed, but the marketing channel has yet to be decided (i.e. download or boxed)

b) Bigpoint still wants to focus on browser games in the future

c) They want to make Drakensang 3, but it may be happening without the TDE License - yet to be decided

d) Answering the question about what Radon Labs should do for Bigpoint in the future, they say 'yet to be decided'

e) They will announce more about DS3 next week

So everything is possible, it seems...

dtp sends word that the add-on to Drakensang: The River of Time will be playable at this year's Role Play Convention in Cologne in mid April.

The demo will be available on four stations. Other highlights are a game design workshop with Drakensang lead designer Fabian Rudzinski, the "Wheel of Phex" - the ones Phex likes smiles upon will collect phat loot - and special sales prices on all kind of Drakensang merchandize.

edit: dtp also promises "another big surprise for The Dark Eye players" for the RPC.

Publisher dtp sent us a PR with the official announcement of the upcoming add-on for Drakensang: The River of Time. You can find the first three pics in our gallery.

Drakensang: Phileasson’s Secret - Add On to The River of Time is set to continue The Dark Eye cult campaign

Hamburg, March 22^nd, 2010 – “The Phileasson Saga” is the most famous and successful pen & paper campaign in the The Dark Eye universe. For more than 15 years, pen & paper players have enjoyed the adventures of surrounding the world of TDE, Aventuria.

Soon, this campaign will be continued – virtually, in Phileasson’s Secret, the official add on to the highly acclaimed PC RPG Drakensang: The River of Time, which dtp entertainment announces today.

Drakensang: Phileasson’s Secret adds a new chapter to “The Phileasson Saga” as well to the PC game Drakensang: The River of Time itself. This epilogue is going to be directly connected to the current revision of the pen & paper campaign.

Thus, a new story about Asleif Phileasson, one of TDE’s best-known characters, unfolds. Having placed a bet, he must surround the continent of Aventuria. On his journey, he has to survive numerous adventures in which he discoveres new creatures and cultures, treasures and items.

Drakensang: The River of Time – Phileasson’s Secret allows CRPG players to learn more about the backgrounds and history of Aventuria and The Dark Eye itself and satisfies the long-cherished wish of TDE players of continuing “The Phileasson Saga”.

dtp entertainment and Radon Labs will release Phileasson’s Secret, the add on to Drakensang: The River of Time, in August 2010.

For playing the add on, you’ll need the critically acclaimed main PC game Drakensang: The River of Time.

This is a dream come true for DSA fans. The Phileasson Saga is indeed arguably the most popular The Dark Eye pen & paper adventure.