Half of PlayStation 5 users bypass rest mode, opting for a complete system shutdown instead, according to Sony. This surprising statistic, revealed by Cory Gasaway, Vice President of Game, Product, and Player Experiences at Sony Interactive Entertainment, highlights a significant user preference divergence. The revelation emerged during an interview with Stephen Totilo, focusing on the design philosophy behind the PS5's Welcome Hub, introduced in 2024.
The Welcome Hub, born from a PlayStation hackathon, directly addresses this 50/50 split in rest mode usage. Its design aims to create a unified user experience despite differing preferences. For US users, the Hub defaults to the PS5 Explore page; internationally, it showcases the most recently played game. This customizable interface provides a consistent starting point for all PS5 users.
While no single reason definitively explains the widespread avoidance of rest mode, anecdotal evidence suggests potential contributing factors. Some players report internet connectivity issues when rest mode is enabled, preferring a fully powered-on console for downloads. Others simply find no need for the feature. Regardless of the cause, Gasaway's insights offer valuable context into the PS5's user interface design process. The data underscores the importance of accommodating diverse user behaviors in console development.
