diff --git a/data/language/en-GB.txt b/data/language/en-GB.txt
index 487806c89f..84f2fc1520 100644
--- a/data/language/en-GB.txt
+++ b/data/language/en-GB.txt
@@ -3702,6 +3702,13 @@ STR_6627    :Track speed too high!
 STR_6628    :Can only be placed on path edges!
 STR_6629    :Align toolbar buttons horizontally centred
 STR_6630    :This setting will align the toolbar buttons horizontally in the centre of the screen. The traditional way of aligning them is in the left and right corner.
+STR_6631    :Loading...
+STR_6632    :Checking object files...
+STR_6633    :Checking scenario files...
+STR_6634    :Checking track design files...
+STR_6635    :Checking asset packs...
+STR_6636    :Checking title sequences...
+STR_6637    :Loading title sequence...
 
 #############
 # Scenarios #
diff --git a/distribution/changelog.txt b/distribution/changelog.txt
index 38800cab15..d7b8eaf4b0 100644
--- a/distribution/changelog.txt
+++ b/distribution/changelog.txt
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 - Feature: [#622] Add option to align the top toolbar buttons horizontally centred (off by default).
 - Feature: [#21714] [Plugin] Costume assignment is now tailored to each staff type.
+- Feature: [#21893] On launch, the game now indicates what system is being initialised.
 - Feature: [#21913] [Plugin] Allow precise and safe control of peep animations.
 - Improved: [#21981] Rendering performance of the map window has been improved considerably.
 - Improved: [#21981] The map window now defaults to showing as much of the map as fits the screen.
diff --git a/src/openrct2-ui/windows/Main.cpp b/src/openrct2-ui/windows/Main.cpp
index d99748a713..f13a01bbc8 100644
--- a/src/openrct2-ui/windows/Main.cpp
+++ b/src/openrct2-ui/windows/Main.cpp
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ static Widget _mainWidgets[] = {
 
         void OnDraw(DrawPixelInfo& dpi) override
         {
+            // Skip viewport render during preloader
+            if (GetContext()->GetActiveScene() == GetContext()->GetPreloaderScene())
+                return;
+
             ViewportRender(dpi, viewport, { { dpi.x, dpi.y }, { dpi.x + dpi.width, dpi.y + dpi.height } });
         }
 
diff --git a/src/openrct2-ui/windows/NetworkStatus.cpp b/src/openrct2-ui/windows/NetworkStatus.cpp
index 0273474906..6e25fe4af9 100644
--- a/src/openrct2-ui/windows/NetworkStatus.cpp
+++ b/src/openrct2-ui/windows/NetworkStatus.cpp
@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ static Widget window_network_status_widgets[] = {
         void SetWindowNetworkStatusText(const std::string& text)
         {
             _windowNetworkStatusText = text;
+            Invalidate();
         }
 
         void SetPassword(char* password)
@@ -132,8 +133,17 @@ static Widget window_network_status_widgets[] = {
 
     WindowBase* NetworkStatusOpen(const std::string& text, close_callback onClose)
     {
-        auto window = WindowFocusOrCreate<NetworkStatusWindow>(
-            WindowClass::NetworkStatus, 420, 90, WF_10 | WF_TRANSPARENT | WF_CENTRE_SCREEN);
+        NetworkStatusWindow* window;
+        if ((window = static_cast<NetworkStatusWindow*>(WindowFindByClass(WindowClass::NetworkStatus))) != nullptr)
+        {
+            WindowBringToFront(*window);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            window = WindowCreate<NetworkStatusWindow>(
+                WindowClass::NetworkStatus, 420, 90, WF_10 | WF_TRANSPARENT | WF_CENTRE_SCREEN);
+        }
+
         window->SetCloseCallBack(onClose);
         window->SetWindowNetworkStatusText(text);
         return window;
diff --git a/src/openrct2/Context.cpp b/src/openrct2/Context.cpp
index 08ce5d777c..b22c438b6f 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/Context.cpp
+++ b/src/openrct2/Context.cpp
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@
 #include "scenario/ScenarioRepository.h"
 #include "scenes/game/GameScene.h"
 #include "scenes/intro/IntroScene.h"
+#include "scenes/preloader/PreloaderScene.h"
 #include "scenes/title/TitleScene.h"
 #include "scenes/title/TitleSequenceManager.h"
 #include "scripting/HookEngine.h"
@@ -124,6 +125,7 @@ namespace OpenRCT2
 #endif
 
         // Scenes
+        std::unique_ptr<PreloaderScene> _preloaderScene;
         std::unique_ptr<IntroScene> _introScene;
         std::unique_ptr<TitleScene> _titleScene;
         std::unique_ptr<GameScene> _gameScene;
@@ -175,9 +177,6 @@ namespace OpenRCT2
 #ifndef DISABLE_NETWORK
             , _network(*this)
 #endif
-            , _introScene(std::make_unique<IntroScene>(*this))
-            , _titleScene(std::make_unique<TitleScene>(*this))
-            , _gameScene(std::make_unique<GameScene>(*this))
             , _painter(std::make_unique<Painter>(uiContext))
         {
             // Can't have more than one context currently.
@@ -311,24 +310,41 @@ namespace OpenRCT2
             return EXIT_FAILURE;
         }
 
-        IScene* GetLoadingScene() override
+        // NB: This takes some liberty in returning PreloaderScene* instead of IScene*.
+        // PreloaderScene adds some methods to Scene, which are used internally by Context.
+        PreloaderScene* GetPreloaderScene() override
         {
-            // TODO: Implement me.
-            return nullptr;
+            if (auto* scene = _preloaderScene.get())
+                return scene;
+
+            _preloaderScene = std::make_unique<PreloaderScene>(*this);
+            return _preloaderScene.get();
         }
 
         IScene* GetIntroScene() override
         {
+            if (auto* scene = _introScene.get())
+                return scene;
+
+            _introScene = std::make_unique<IntroScene>(*this);
             return _introScene.get();
         }
 
         IScene* GetTitleScene() override
         {
+            if (auto* scene = _titleScene.get())
+                return scene;
+
+            _titleScene = std::make_unique<TitleScene>(*this);
             return _titleScene.get();
         }
 
         IScene* GetGameScene() override
         {
+            if (auto* scene = _gameScene.get())
+                return scene;
+
+            _gameScene = std::make_unique<GameScene>(*this);
             return _gameScene.get();
         }
 
@@ -477,26 +493,6 @@ namespace OpenRCT2
 
             EnsureUserContentDirectoriesExist();
 
-            // TODO Ideally we want to delay this until we show the title so that we can
-            //      still open the game window and draw a progress screen for the creation
-            //      of the object cache.
-            _objectRepository->LoadOrConstruct(_localisationService->GetCurrentLanguage());
-
-            if (!gOpenRCT2Headless)
-            {
-                _assetPackManager->Scan();
-                _assetPackManager->LoadEnabledAssetPacks();
-                _assetPackManager->Reload();
-            }
-
-            // TODO Like objects, this can take a while if there are a lot of track designs
-            //      its also really something really we might want to do in the background
-            //      as its not required until the player wants to place a new ride.
-            _trackDesignRepository->Scan(_localisationService->GetCurrentLanguage());
-
-            _scenarioRepository->Scan(_localisationService->GetCurrentLanguage());
-            TitleSequenceManager::Scan();
-
             if (!gOpenRCT2Headless)
             {
                 Audio::Init();
@@ -520,7 +516,20 @@ namespace OpenRCT2
             InputResetPlaceObjModifier();
             ViewportInitAll();
 
-            gameStateInitAll(GetGameState(), DEFAULT_MAP_SIZE);
+            ContextInit();
+
+            if (!gOpenRCT2Headless)
+            {
+                auto* preloaderScene = GetPreloaderScene();
+                preloaderScene->AddJob([this]() { InitialiseRepositories(); });
+
+                // TODO: preload the title scene in another (parallel) job.
+                SetActiveScene(preloaderScene);
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                InitialiseRepositories();
+            }
 
 #ifdef ENABLE_SCRIPTING
             _scriptEngine.Initialise();
@@ -531,6 +540,44 @@ namespace OpenRCT2
             return true;
         }
 
+    private:
+        void InitialiseRepositories()
+        {
+            if (!_initialised)
+            {
+                throw std::runtime_error("Context needs to be initialised first.");
+            }
+
+            auto currentLanguage = _localisationService->GetCurrentLanguage();
+            auto* preloaderScene = GetPreloaderScene();
+
+            preloaderScene->UpdateCaption(STR_CHECKING_OBJECT_FILES);
+            _objectRepository->LoadOrConstruct(currentLanguage);
+
+            if (!gOpenRCT2Headless)
+            {
+                preloaderScene->UpdateCaption(STR_CHECKING_ASSET_PACKS);
+                _assetPackManager->Scan();
+                _assetPackManager->LoadEnabledAssetPacks();
+                _assetPackManager->Reload();
+            }
+
+            preloaderScene->UpdateCaption(STR_CHECKING_TRACK_DESIGN_FILES);
+            _trackDesignRepository->Scan(currentLanguage);
+
+            preloaderScene->UpdateCaption(STR_CHECKING_SCENARIO_FILES);
+            _scenarioRepository->Scan(currentLanguage);
+
+            preloaderScene->UpdateCaption(STR_CHECKING_TITLE_SEQUENCES);
+            TitleSequenceManager::Scan();
+
+            if (preloaderScene->GetCompletionScene() == GetTitleScene())
+                preloaderScene->UpdateCaption(STR_LOADING_TITLE_SEQUENCE);
+            else
+                preloaderScene->UpdateCaption(STR_LOADING_GENERIC);
+        }
+
+    public:
         void InitialiseDrawingEngine() final override
         {
             assert(_drawingEngine == nullptr);
@@ -596,6 +643,14 @@ namespace OpenRCT2
             _drawingEngine = nullptr;
         }
 
+        void SetProgress(size_t currentProgress, size_t totalCount) override
+        {
+            if (GetActiveScene() != GetPreloaderScene())
+                return;
+
+            GetPreloaderScene()->SetProgress(currentProgress, totalCount);
+        }
+
         bool LoadParkFromFile(const u8string& path, bool loadTitleScreenOnFail = false, bool asScenario = false) final override
         {
             LOG_VERBOSE("Context::LoadParkFromFile(%s)", path.c_str());
@@ -1012,7 +1067,14 @@ namespace OpenRCT2
             }
 
             auto* scene = DetermineStartUpScene();
-            SetActiveScene(scene);
+            if (!gOpenRCT2Headless)
+            {
+                _preloaderScene->SetCompletionScene(scene);
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                SetActiveScene(scene);
+            }
 
             if (scene == GetGameScene())
             {
diff --git a/src/openrct2/Context.h b/src/openrct2/Context.h
index 8f3b463008..4fa8e38c66 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/Context.h
+++ b/src/openrct2/Context.h
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ namespace OpenRCT2
         virtual NetworkBase& GetNetwork() abstract;
 #endif
 
-        virtual IScene* GetLoadingScene() abstract;
+        virtual IScene* GetPreloaderScene() abstract;
         virtual IScene* GetIntroScene() abstract;
         virtual IScene* GetTitleScene() abstract;
         virtual IScene* GetGameScene() abstract;
@@ -158,6 +158,8 @@ namespace OpenRCT2
         virtual bool Initialise() abstract;
         virtual void InitialiseDrawingEngine() abstract;
         virtual void DisposeDrawingEngine() abstract;
+        virtual void SetProgress(size_t currentProgress, size_t totalCount) abstract;
+
         virtual bool LoadParkFromFile(
             const u8string& path, bool loadTitleScreenOnFail = false, bool asScenario = false) abstract;
         virtual bool LoadParkFromStream(
diff --git a/src/openrct2/core/FileIndex.hpp b/src/openrct2/core/FileIndex.hpp
index 18c9256a8d..442bb92f38 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/core/FileIndex.hpp
+++ b/src/openrct2/core/FileIndex.hpp
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
+#include "../Context.h"
 #include "../common.h"
 #include "Console.hpp"
 #include "DataSerialiser.h"
@@ -211,6 +212,7 @@ private:
             auto reportProgress = [&]() {
                 const size_t completed = processed;
                 Console::WriteFormat("File %5zu of %zu, done %3d%%\r", completed, totalCount, completed * 100 / totalCount);
+                OpenRCT2::GetContext()->SetProgress(completed, totalCount);
             };
 
             for (size_t rangeStart = 0; rangeStart < totalCount; rangeStart += stepSize)
diff --git a/src/openrct2/core/JobPool.cpp b/src/openrct2/core/JobPool.cpp
index e4038663ab..ca757ca3fa 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/core/JobPool.cpp
+++ b/src/openrct2/core/JobPool.cpp
@@ -95,6 +95,12 @@ size_t JobPool::CountPending()
     return _pending.size();
 }
 
+size_t JobPool::CountProcessing()
+{
+    unique_lock lock(_mutex);
+    return _processing;
+}
+
 void JobPool::ProcessQueue()
 {
     unique_lock lock(_mutex);
diff --git a/src/openrct2/core/JobPool.h b/src/openrct2/core/JobPool.h
index aa558929fc..bfd51ad71c 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/core/JobPool.h
+++ b/src/openrct2/core/JobPool.h
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ public:
     void AddTask(std::function<void()> workFn, std::function<void()> completionFn = nullptr);
     void Join(std::function<void()> reportFn = nullptr);
     size_t CountPending();
+    size_t CountProcessing();
 
 private:
     void ProcessQueue();
diff --git a/src/openrct2/libopenrct2.vcxproj b/src/openrct2/libopenrct2.vcxproj
index 6f9af5f1bb..9bfa837ac4 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/libopenrct2.vcxproj
+++ b/src/openrct2/libopenrct2.vcxproj
@@ -522,8 +522,9 @@
     <ClInclude Include="scenario\ScenarioRepository.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="scenario\ScenarioSources.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="scenes\Scene.h" />
-    <ClInclude Include="scenes\intro\IntroScene.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="scenes\game\GameScene.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="scenes\intro\IntroScene.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="scenes\preloader\PreloaderScene.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="scenes\title\Command\End.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="scenes\title\Command\FollowEntity.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="scenes\title\Command\LoadPark.h" />
@@ -1015,6 +1016,7 @@
     <ClCompile Include="scenes\Scene.cpp" />
     <ClCompile Include="scenes\game\GameScene.cpp" />
     <ClCompile Include="scenes\intro\IntroScene.cpp" />
+    <ClCompile Include="scenes\preloader\PreloaderScene.cpp" />
     <ClCompile Include="scenes\title\Command\End.cpp" />
     <ClCompile Include="scenes\title\Command\FollowEntity.cpp" />
     <ClCompile Include="scenes\title\Command\LoadPark.cpp" />
diff --git a/src/openrct2/localisation/StringIds.h b/src/openrct2/localisation/StringIds.h
index 82f39e674e..ad8cca6f7a 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/localisation/StringIds.h
+++ b/src/openrct2/localisation/StringIds.h
@@ -3855,6 +3855,14 @@ enum : uint16_t
     STR_OPTIONS_TOOLBAR_BUTTONS_CENTRED = 6629,
     STR_OPTIONS_TOOLBAR_BUTTONS_CENTRED_TIP = 6630,
 
+    STR_LOADING_GENERIC = 6631,
+    STR_CHECKING_OBJECT_FILES = 6632,
+    STR_CHECKING_SCENARIO_FILES = 6633,
+    STR_CHECKING_TRACK_DESIGN_FILES = 6634,
+    STR_CHECKING_ASSET_PACKS = 6635,
+    STR_CHECKING_TITLE_SEQUENCES = 6636,
+    STR_LOADING_TITLE_SEQUENCE = 6637,
+
     // Have to include resource strings (from scenarios and objects) for the time being now that language is partially working
     /* MAX_STR_COUNT = 32768 */ // MAX_STR_COUNT - upper limit for number of strings, not the current count strings
 };
diff --git a/src/openrct2/scenes/Scene.cpp b/src/openrct2/scenes/Scene.cpp
index 8f2681b29e..f300c0d02c 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/scenes/Scene.cpp
+++ b/src/openrct2/scenes/Scene.cpp
@@ -28,3 +28,22 @@ GameState_t& Scene::GetGameState()
 {
     return OpenRCT2::GetGameState();
 }
+
+void Scene::FinishScene()
+{
+    if (_nextScene != nullptr)
+    {
+        _context.SetActiveScene(_nextScene);
+        _nextScene = nullptr;
+    }
+}
+
+IScene* Scene::GetCompletionScene()
+{
+    return _nextScene;
+}
+
+void Scene::SetCompletionScene(IScene* scene)
+{
+    _nextScene = scene;
+}
diff --git a/src/openrct2/scenes/Scene.h b/src/openrct2/scenes/Scene.h
index 4e1e135d88..a082717d26 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/scenes/Scene.h
+++ b/src/openrct2/scenes/Scene.h
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ namespace OpenRCT2
         virtual void Load() = 0;
         virtual void Tick() = 0;
         virtual void Stop() = 0;
+
+        virtual IScene* GetCompletionScene() = 0;
+        virtual void SetCompletionScene(IScene* scene) = 0;
     };
 
     class Scene : public IScene
@@ -37,8 +40,15 @@ namespace OpenRCT2
         GameState_t& GetGameState() override;
         IContext& GetContext() override;
 
+        IScene* GetCompletionScene() override;
+        void SetCompletionScene(IScene* scene) override;
+
+    protected:
+        void FinishScene();
+
     protected:
         IContext& _context;
+        IScene* _nextScene = nullptr;
     };
 
 } // namespace OpenRCT2
diff --git a/src/openrct2/scenes/preloader/PreloaderScene.cpp b/src/openrct2/scenes/preloader/PreloaderScene.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b4505f0fbb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/openrct2/scenes/preloader/PreloaderScene.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+/*****************************************************************************
+ * Copyright (c) 2014-2024 OpenRCT2 developers
+ *
+ * For a complete list of all authors, please refer to contributors.md
+ * Interested in contributing? Visit https://github.com/OpenRCT2/OpenRCT2
+ *
+ * OpenRCT2 is licensed under the GNU General Public License version 3.
+ *****************************************************************************/
+
+#include "PreloaderScene.h"
+
+#include "../../Context.h"
+#include "../../Game.h"
+#include "../../GameState.h"
+#include "../../OpenRCT2.h"
+#include "../../audio/audio.h"
+#include "../../drawing/IDrawingContext.h"
+#include "../../drawing/IDrawingEngine.h"
+#include "../../interface/Viewport.h"
+#include "../../interface/Window.h"
+#include "../../localisation/LocalisationService.h"
+#include "../../localisation/StringIds.h"
+#include "../../windows/Intent.h"
+
+#include <sstream>
+
+using namespace OpenRCT2;
+
+PreloaderScene::PreloaderScene(IContext& context)
+    : Scene(context)
+    , _jobs(1)
+    , _captionId(STR_LOADING_GENERIC)
+{
+}
+
+void PreloaderScene::Load()
+{
+    LOG_VERBOSE("PreloaderScene::Load()");
+
+    gScreenFlags = SCREEN_FLAGS_PLAYING;
+    gameStateInitAll(GetGameState(), DEFAULT_MAP_SIZE);
+    ViewportInitAll();
+    ContextOpenWindow(WindowClass::MainWindow);
+    WindowResizeGui(ContextGetWidth(), ContextGetHeight());
+
+    // Reset screen
+    auto* engine = GetContext().GetDrawingEngine();
+    auto* drawingContext = engine->GetDrawingContext();
+    drawingContext->Clear(*engine->GetDrawingPixelInfo(), PALETTE_INDEX_10);
+
+    UpdateCaption(_captionId);
+
+    LOG_VERBOSE("PreloaderScene::Load() finished");
+}
+
+void PreloaderScene::Tick()
+{
+    gInUpdateCode = true;
+
+    ContextHandleInput();
+    WindowInvalidateAll();
+
+    gInUpdateCode = false;
+
+    if (_jobs.CountPending() == 0 && _jobs.CountProcessing() == 0)
+    {
+        // Make sure the job is fully completed.
+        _jobs.Join();
+
+        FinishScene();
+    }
+}
+
+void PreloaderScene::UpdateCaption(StringId stringId)
+{
+    _captionId = stringId;
+
+    auto intent = Intent(WindowClass::NetworkStatus);
+    intent.PutExtra(INTENT_EXTRA_MESSAGE, GetContext().GetLocalisationService().GetString(stringId));
+    ContextOpenIntent(&intent);
+};
+
+void PreloaderScene::SetProgress(size_t currentProgress, size_t totalCount)
+{
+    std::stringstream caption;
+    caption << GetContext().GetLocalisationService().GetString(_captionId);
+    caption << " (" << currentProgress << " / " << totalCount << ")";
+
+    auto intent = Intent(WindowClass::NetworkStatus);
+    intent.PutExtra(INTENT_EXTRA_MESSAGE, caption.str());
+    ContextOpenIntent(&intent);
+}
+
+void PreloaderScene::Stop()
+{
+    Audio::StopAll();
+}
diff --git a/src/openrct2/scenes/preloader/PreloaderScene.h b/src/openrct2/scenes/preloader/PreloaderScene.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..eaf7eafcd7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/openrct2/scenes/preloader/PreloaderScene.h
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+/*****************************************************************************
+ * Copyright (c) 2014-2024 OpenRCT2 developers
+ *
+ * For a complete list of all authors, please refer to contributors.md
+ * Interested in contributing? Visit https://github.com/OpenRCT2/OpenRCT2
+ *
+ * OpenRCT2 is licensed under the GNU General Public License version 3.
+ *****************************************************************************/
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include "../../core/JobPool.h"
+#include "../../drawing/Drawing.h"
+#include "../Scene.h"
+
+namespace OpenRCT2
+{
+    class PreloaderScene final : public Scene
+    {
+    public:
+        PreloaderScene(IContext& context);
+
+        void Load() override;
+        void Tick() override;
+        void Stop() override;
+        void UpdateCaption(StringId stringId);
+        void SetProgress(size_t currentProgress, size_t totalCount);
+        void AddJob(const std::function<void()>& fn)
+        {
+            _jobs.AddTask(fn);
+        }
+
+    private:
+        JobPool _jobs;
+        StringId _captionId;
+    };
+} // namespace OpenRCT2