Pour one for those loading screens
While several games of this generation hid loads behind cleverly designed environments, loading screens still weren't strange for the Xbox One or PS4. With the release of the Xbox Series X/S and PS5, gamers will mostly be saying goodbye to this generation's game load times. While I expect some games developed later this generation to even take some effort from the SSD, those games will likely load (or have already been shown loading) too quickly to take in the scenery, atmosphere or, in one particular case, the gameplay. We'll all have favorite loading screens/sequences, but these are some of the best of this console generation.
10) Overwatch
Although Overwatch's loading screens are static, it gives Blizzard an excuse to show off what made it one of the greatest developers: beautiful design art. There are other games of this generation that take players to a map rather than looking at it, but Blizzard puts so much detail into their games, especially Overwatch, that even a static image of part of a map enough to captivate me. while I wait for the maps to load. Some of my favorite Overwatch map loading screens are Ilios, Blizzard World, Eichenwald, Junkertown, and Hanamura. While I can't wait to get into the PvP action of Overwatch with the PS5 and Xbox Series X, I'll miss watching those loading screens.
9) Grand Theft Auto 5
Despite the fact that it is not a comic video game, Rockstar shows its talented cartoon with the loading screens of GTA V. Grand Theft Auto 5 released in 2013 on the latest generation of consoles, but it's been appropriately upgraded for current-gen, meaning loads are a bit shorter but still quite long on Xbox One and PS4. Rockstar fans will be familiar with GTA V's loading screens if they've played the latest gen, but the footage flips between them akin to flipping through a comic book given the cartoonish visuals. The vibrant colors of Los Santos are teased on these screens, and the general mood of the campaign is captured in the characters Rockstar chose to include in the loadout sequences. I'm looking forward to the next-gen version of GTA V, but those loading screens will just be mere blips on Xbox Series X and PS5.
8) Fortnite/Apex Legends
Fortnite and Apex Legends are similar in many ways beyond just being part of the battle royale genre. Both games include free battle pass and purchased battle pass content, some of which include loading screens that will replace the boring default loading screen. Similarly, both games allow for loading screen customization, where players can choose their favorite from multiple freebies and purchased loading screens. Most of my favorite Fortnite screens come from Chapter 1 Season 7, Chapter 1 Season 10, and the current season, Chapter 2 Season 4: Nexus War. Apex Legends has fewer impressive loading screens so far, but to be honest, it's a newer game. My favorite Apex Legends loading screen is from Season 4: Assimilation and it features a zen restaurant with cherry blossoms and a pool of water under the windows overlooking Capitol City. Each season of both games offers at least one solid loading screen and it's always been worth checking out for new ones, but I don't think these will be important at all on the Xbox Series X/S and PS5.
Click through to page 2 to see more loading screens we're going to miss with the latest gen…
