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, a product of a PlayStation hackathon, aimed to create a unified user experience despite varying preferences, notably the 50/50 split on rest mode usage. Gasaway explained that the Hub's design accounts for this, presenting US users with the PS5 Explore page and non-US users with their most recently played game. This approach underscores Sony's efforts to provide a more consistent and customizable starting point for all PS5 users.
While no single reason explains the widespread avoidance of rest mode, anecdotal evidence suggests potential contributing factors. Some users report internet connectivity issues when rest mode is enabled, preferring a fully powered-on console for downloads. Others simply seem to prefer the complete shutdown option. Regardless of the reasons, Gasaway's insights offer valuable context into the user-centric design choices shaping the PS5's user interface. The 50% figure underscores the need for flexible design considerations to accommodate diverse user behaviors.
