PlayStation Reveals How Many Gamers Turn Off Their PS5 Compared to Putting It in Rest Mode

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, directly addresses this 50/50 split in rest mode usage. Its design aims to create a unified user experience, catering to diverse preferences. For US-based users, the Hub defaults to the PS5 Explore page, while international users see their most recently played game. This customizable interface aims to provide a consistent and personalized starting point.

While no single definitive reason explains the widespread avoidance of rest mode, anecdotal evidence suggests varied contributing factors. Some users report internet connectivity issues when rest mode is enabled, preferring a fully powered-on console for downloads and updates. Others seemingly experience no such problems and utilize the feature without issue. Regardless of the cause, Gasaway's insights provide valuable context for understanding the PS5's user interface design principles. The 50% figure underscores the importance of accommodating diverse user behaviors in console development.