Nintendo has shared an update regarding The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2: it's being delayed until 2023.

Originally scheduled for a 2022 release — and reconfirmed for that launch window last month (albeit with 'temp.' appended) — series boss Eiji Aonuma presented the short update and apologised to fans who had been expecting to play the game some time this year.

He goes on to mention again the sequel's sky-based gameplay and assure fans that the development team is hard at work on what is still officially called "The Sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild":

"In order to make the game's experience something special, the entire development team is continuing to work diligently on this game, so please wait a while longer."

BOTW2 Spring 2023
No one wanted it, although many fans will have predicted it — Image: Nintendo

The apology video featured a small snippet of new footage showing Link holding what looks like a gnarly Master Sword, too.

It's a blow for fans who might have hoped to be playing the sequel to the celebrated original — which was released alongside the Switch five years ago on 3rd March 2017 — this Holiday season. However, many Zelda fans will have been rightly sceptical about the release date as the series has a history of delays.

Feel free to commiserate with us below and let us know if you thought this one was going to be delayed. Also, if you're going to make an apology video, always get a good haircut beforehand. Aonuma-san's looking sharp, right?!