KEY POINTS

• Nintendo unvield the sequel of "Breath of the Wild" at the E3 2019
• The team started the game's development in 2017
• "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom" will launch on Nintendo Switch

Japanese gaming giant Nintendo previously revealed the release date of the sequel of "Breath of the Wild," and the latest discovery suggested that "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom" is being prepared to officially launch.

Nintendo's deliberate silence about "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom" and its lack of update about the upcoming game triggered speculations that the release of the highly-anticipated sequel might face another delay. But this fear was recently assuaged when reports about the game getting rated in South Korea surfaced online.

The Game Ratings and Administration Committee (GRAC) of South Korea was the first to ever rate "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom," and underlines that amid fears of being delayed, the game is indeed happening. Based on the rating, the game is suitable for players ages 12 and above and features some "mild violence."

The description states that the product is a "role-playing game for the Nintendo Switch in which the stage of the adventure to find Zelda expands into the sky." This latest discovery is major development since based on the classification process for video games, rating the title happens in the last stage of game development, particularly when it is nearing its official launch.

For context, South Korea is usually the first country to rate video games ahead of other countries. It was also the first to rate Sony's "God of War: Ragnarok" in May 2022, which was later released on November 9.

There are also times when the South Korean rating board rate video games that have not been announced yet. This is what happened to the game "Silent Hill: The Short Message," which the country rated even before Konami had the chance to officially announce it to the public.

Nintendo previously announced that "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom" is scheduled to release on May 12, 2023. And while the South Korean rating is not solid proof that the game won't be delayed, it is, in a way, an assurance for fans to be optimistic.

Nintendo started the development of "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom" in 2017 and unveiled it at E3 2019 as the sequel to "Breath of the Wild." The company announced its official title alongside its release date in September.

"The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom" will release on Nintendo's hybrid gaming console, Switch.