NPCs and players not loading

Whenever I load into a busy area, it takes very very long for all the players and NPCs to load in after I've arrived there. This started happening at least since patch 5.4, possibly even patch 5.3. I was hoping the improved loading with patch 5.5 would fix the issue, but it has not. If anything, it seems worse than before.

I wouldn't necessarily mind if it took a while to load in people and things, as long as it prioritised the NPCs and interactables such as retainer bells, doorways and quest locations. But it doesn't. I can be waiting for ages at an entirely empty shop counter in Eulmore, players popping up all around me, before I can finally do business there.

Date & Time: any
Frequency: often
World name: Cerberus
Character name: Lelane Lavellan
Retainer name: N/A
NPC name: any nearby
Monster name: N/A
Class/Level: any
Party or solo: any
In-game time: any
Area and coordinates: any areas where there are lots of players at the time
Housing: N/A
Steps:
1. Teleport to any area where there are lots of players, for example Eulmore, Limsa Lominsa, Mor Dhona, or MSQ locations on patch day.
2. Wait 20-25 seconds for the area to load.
3. Arrive in area, see few to no players and NPCs.
4. Wait additional 10-30 seconds for players, NPCs or interactable items to load in.
5. Finally able to shop or continue quest.
*Add more steps if necessary

Connection Specs
- Type of internet connection/provider: Ziggo 50Mbit down/10Mbit up
- Modem maker/model number: Ziggo


■ PS4 Specs

Model Number of the PlayStation®4 You Are Using
- Model Number: CUH-1004A

As you are using a PlayStation 4, this relates to the loading time of a traditional HDD.

PlayStation 5 benefits from an SSD which allows game assets such as players to load instantly.

I'm sure that's why the long loading times, and I accept that, but my point is I never used to have to wait for NPCs to load in. I do now. It noticeably changed.

I think I understand what's happening now. The reduction in loading time is so that you can move around even if players and NPCs haven't loaded yet. That's extremely helpful for people who use a HDD because it can take a long time to load the characters.

That does make sense, and I don't necessarily mind it. I just really wish that it prioritised NPCs for loading, because there's no point in being able to move around anywhere if I can't do my business because the shop isn't there yet.

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