New PS5 patent explains just how it's going to shorten load times

From the PS5 leaks, and that whole 'PS5 official announcement bar the reveal of the actual console name' thing that Sony did, it's looking like there's a huge focus on making sure that you're spending less time looking at a loading screen in the next-generation of consoles. And now, a brand new PS5 patent has emerged that sheds some light on how loading times on the PS5 are going to be distinctly shorter than those you'll currently experience on PS4.

The patent is beautifully titled as the "system and method for dynamically loading game software for smooth play", and states:

“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 another game environment are loaded into a memory when the character crosses the load boundary, such that game play is not interrupted."

Now, while that doesn't sound that sexy, it explains how the PS5 will reduce load times by focusing on pre-loading data. In essence, it tracks your character and loads the areas you're about to go into before you even get there. Any given area will be broken down into segments and pre-loaded ahead of time, allowing for a much more seamless transition between areas.

From what we know of the PS5 hardware, it will use a specialised SSD drive, which will be more powerful, and faster than the hardware Sony's consoles currently use, which should allow this whole process to run much more smoothly. Hence that sexy patent title.

So while the PS5 won't eliminate load times altogether, it should drastically reduce the time you're left staring at loading screen after loading screen.

Sam Loveridge is the Brand Director and former Global Editor-in-Chief of GamesRadar. She joined the team in August 2017. Sam came to GamesRadar after working at TrustedReviews, Digital Spy, and Fandom, following the completion of an MA in Journalism. In her time, she's also had appearances on The Guardian, BBC, and more. Her experience has seen her cover console and PC games, along with gaming hardware, for a decade, and for GamesRadar, she's in charge of the site's overall direction, managing the team, and making sure it's the best it can be. Her gaming passions lie with weird simulation games, big open-world RPGs, and beautifully crafted indies. She plays across all platforms, and specializes in titles like Pokemon, Assassin's Creed, The Sims, and more. Basically, she loves all games that aren't sports or fighting titles! In her spare time, Sam likes to live like Stardew Valley by cooking and baking, growing vegetables, and enjoying life in the countryside.