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 (Sony Interactive Entertainment's VP of game, product, and player experiences) in an interview with Stephen Totilo, highlights the diversity of player preferences. The revelation came during a discussion about the PS5's Welcome Hub, a feature designed to create a more unified user experience despite varied usage habits.

The Welcome Hub itself emerged from a PlayStation hackathon, directly addressing the 50/50 split in rest mode usage. The Hub dynamically presents either the PS5 Explore page (for US users) or the last played game (for international users), aiming for a consistent and personalized starting point. This customizable interface is a direct response to user behavior.

While no single reason explains the widespread avoidance of rest mode, some users report internet connectivity issues when rest mode is enabled, preferring to keep their consoles fully powered on for downloads. Others appear to have no such problems. Regardless of the cause, Gasaway's insights shed light on the user-centric design considerations behind the PS5's user interface. The data underscores the importance of understanding diverse player behaviors when developing console features and experiences.