These days, there is often a server-side component to the game (even if it isn't a multiplayer game). When the game "boots", it waits to open a connection to th

These days, there is often a server-side component to the game (even if it isn't a multiplayer game). When the game "boots", it waits to open a connection to the servers until you "press any key". An idle timer can also send you back to this screen. This lets the publisher save server resources because they will avoid pointless connections to the servers when players just leave the game running.