14 DAY TRIAL // The Australian Classification Board has given the upcoming Starcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm an M rating, citing violence levels in the Blizzard-made strategy game, also noting how the experience of those gamers who also engage in the multiplayer mode might be different.
The Australian Classification Board also initially stated that the rating was modified, meaning that Blizzard previously submitted another version of Starcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm that received another rating, but it seems that the note was just an error.
The fact that Starcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm was classified on at least one major market could be seen as a sign that the game is getting closer to launch date.
But a publisher can submit a title for the classification process many months before the actual release because they only need to show elements like cutscenes, dialog and campaign element to the Australian Classification Board.
The rating is awarded based on this narrative elements even as Blizzard is free to use its development resources to continue to modify units, change balance elements or even introduce new gameplay mechanics.
An M ratification is consistent with what Blizzard delivered in the first game in the Starcraft II series, Wings of Liberty.
Heart of the Swarm is set to focus on the character of Kerrigan and on the Zerg race, setting up the grand story finale of the franchise, which will be delivered in the Protoss-focused Legacy of the Void.
The new strategy game will introduce new units and will require veterans to re-learn the multiplayer strategies that they are relying on, even if the developers have said they are trying to preserve as much as possible of the existing unit balance.
Blizzard has not mentioned an official launch date for the PC release, but a beta might be offered before the end of the year.