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The faster load times of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are an exciting prospect for players looking to get into their games quicker, but there might be a big artistic downside to the so-called “death of loading screens.” So far, the upcoming next generation of consoles has shown off many interning new features, such as better graphics, cross-play compatibility with older systems, and even haptic feedback that will let gamers feel the raindrops that brush past them in a given in-game environment.
One other new aspect that’s been generating a lot of hype is how these upcoming consoles will be able to load and process games much faster, thanks to more advanced technology like the PS5’s solid-state drive. Both Sony and Microsoft have demonstrated their new systems’ insanely fast load times in online videos, and the latter has even bragged that creating a start-up animation for the Series X was a challenge due to how quickly the console would boot up. As a result of this supposed processing speed, Sony has even indicated that the PS5 might not have loading screens at all.
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However, these faster load times aren’t without their pitfalls, as reported in an article by Wccftech yesterday. According to Ryan Shah, a developer at indie studio Kitatus and Friends, games not taking as long to load means that certain titles will no longer be able to rely on loading screens to inform players on parts of lore that wouldn’t fit in the game proper, as well as provide tips on how to play. “[…] In things like in Fallout 4 and even the Soulsborne games a lot of important hints towards the story and stuff that’s hold during the loading screens, and tips on how to play because they’re very much in the design of ‘Here’s the game, just go and play’. However, if you start any loading, here’s some background, here’s some lore or here’s a tip for how to not suck.” Shah explained. “Whereas now they won’t have that blanket. They’re gonna have to think of another way of presenting that information in, which is interesting and not something people are really thinking about at the moment.”
For years, games like Resident Evil and Elder Scrolls have made creative use of loading screens to either provide the world-building information Shah describes or at least make the wait for the next level or cutscene less tedious. Others, like Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare, have used their loading screens to either promote new DLC updates or even show support and solidarity with important causes like the Black Lives Matter movement, as was done in recent months.
Still, titles like God Of War and Batman: Arkham Knight have already begun doing away with these loading screens in order to provide a more seamless storytelling experience, and given new technological developments it seems like this old staple of the gaming industry might very well be a thing of the past when the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X arrive later this year. On the other hand, Ryan Shah has a point in saying that this will mean that game franchises like Fallout and Final Fantasy will no longer be able to give players little bits of lore while they wait for the next section of gameplay to load up, meaning that a quiet yet long-standing part of the gaming experience will truly be lost in the next console generation.
Source: Wccftech
