It would seem that Sony’s next console, the PlayStation 5, will bring an end to loading screens after a new patent was filed for new technology that would do just that, the patent ‘System and method for dynamically loading game software for smooth game play’ is a method where “a load boundary associated with a game environment is identified. A position of a character in the game environment is then monitored. Instructions corresponding to a next game environment are loaded into a memory when the character crosses the load boundary, such that game play is not interrupted.”
This is not the only patent that has been associated with the PlayStation 5. Earlier in the year, patent related to backward compatibility was filed. The method for backward compatibility suggests that every generation of PlayStation may be playable on the PlayStation 5.
The method that is being used for dynamically loading game software works like this; “Storing information in memory regarding a plurality of game environments, wherein each environment is associated with one or more next environments; and executing instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor: renders a game environment in which a character is located, identifies a plurality of game environments that are next to the rendered game environment based on stored information, wherein each next game environment is associated with a load boundary located in the rendered game environment, wherein the rendered game environment includes a plurality of load boundaries each located at a different distance to a boundary of the rendered game environment; detects when the character crosses one of the plurality of load boundaries in the rendered game environment, identifies which of the plurality of next game environments is associated with the crossed load boundary, and loads instructions corresponding to the identified next game environment associated with the crossed load boundary into a memory, wherein the loading of instructions for the identified next game environment is complete and ready to render when the character reaches the identified next game environment.” In other words, it seems like everything will load dynamically when you move towards a particular point in the world or level of a game.
Recently, Microsoft also shared some information about Project Scarlett at E3. It was mentioned that the console will run games without loading screens as well. Project Scarlett releases Holiday 2020. Sony has yet to officially announce their next console, but that will most likely happen sometime before the release of Project Scarlett.