A while back PlayStation 5 architect Mark Cerny revealed the console would include a feature that allowed you instant access to certain parts of a game and it seems that WCR 9 director Alan Jarniou and product manager Sébastien Waxin have let the cat out of the bag.
They discussed their game with GameReactor Spain who reported the following (via Google Translate):
However, it is the improvements focused on the execution of the software that can end up changing the experience completely, as WRC 9 will implement fully asynchronous and optimized loading, using the new super-fast SSD memories so that the players get behind the wheel in no time, while the function of the PlayStation 5 Activities system will propose instant ‘deeplink’ links from the start menu to directly access races or parts of the game, with the intention of “keeping players hooked”.
This seems to the feature that Mark Cerny discussed with Wired a few months ago.
Multiplayer game servers will provide the console with the set of joinable activities in real time. Single-player games will provide information like what missions you could do and what rewards you might receive for completing them—and all of those choices will be visible in the UI. As a player you just jump right into whatever you like.
GameReactor Spain have since deleted the article but there’s a cached version still available.
Sony’s Matt Maclaurin, VP of UX Design at PlayStation, has revealed this to be a “100% overhaul of the PS4 UI”, which will contrast with Microsoft’s decision to keep the Xbox Series X system UI the same as the Xbox One.
He describes it as “A little more pragmatic, but a 100% overhaul of PS4 UI and some very different new concepts.” This includes “Largely cleaning up core functionality, but some key new bets that you’ll see soon,” though that still means there’s “a whole new visual language and a complete rearchitecting of the user interface.”
Source: GameReactor / WCCFtech
