Nintendo has a solid-looking slate of games lined up for its console stretching well into 2024, including Super Mario Bros. Wonder (which I absolutely cannot wait for), Detective Pikachu Returns and maybe, possibly Metroid Prime 4. But there's no denying that the 6.5-year-old console is getting long in the tooth, so Nintendo is gearing up for what's next. To that end, the company reportedly showed developers tech demos for its next-gen system behind closed doors at Gamescom last month. One of the Switch 2 demos was a beefed-up version of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. That's according to Eurogamer, which points out that this was a tech demo and there's no guarantee of a remastered or upgraded version of BOTW coming to the Switch 2, so don't get your hopes up. That said, the demo was said to show BOTW running at a higher frame rate and resolution than the original Switch can handle.

A story and a tangible sense of place: "BOTW" is a monstrous game, filled with lore. There's a reason why Internet essayists, like the YouTube channel Zeltik, have created dozens of videos peering into the mysteries of a post-apocalypse Hyrule. The "Zonai Tribe" doesn't even factor into its main game, and is barely named, but seems to be central to the series history. "Skyward Sword" is far less subtle about its story, and many will miss it. While I personally appreciate a more mise-en-scène approach to video game storytelling, the characters and cinematic framing of "Skyward Sword" is undeniably charming.

You wake up, it's dark and you're lying in a pool. You don't remember how you got here. You stand up, stretch your aching limbs, walk towards the exit and out into the brilliant sunshine. As your eyes adjust to the light, the world comes slowly into focus – and it is beautiful. The greens of the open plains contrast with the dark black of Death Mountain, which is streaked with orange lava on the distant horizon.

I like the Nintendo Switch. Conceptually, it is the most intelligently designed console in the past 15 years. However, a console is only as strong as its library, and The Switch's selection of games looks a little thin for the foreseeable future. Nintendo is to gaming what Major League Baseball is to major sports leagues. They are so established, revered and covered by a hardcore following that they are often resistant to stepping outside of their normal profile.