Gamers Embrace Rest Mode: PlayStation Shares Usage Stats

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, including the significant number of players eschewing rest mode. Gasaway noted a 50/50 split between users powering down versus utilizing rest mode in the US, with the Welcome Hub's design adapting to display either the PS5 Explore page or the user's most recently played game. This customizable interface aims to provide a consistent and personalized starting point for all PS5 users.

While no single dominant reason explains the avoidance of rest mode has been identified, anecdotal evidence suggests potential issues with internet functionality for some users. Others report no such problems. Regardless of the cause, Gasaway's insights offer valuable context into the user-centric design considerations behind the PS5's user interface. The 50% figure underscores the importance of catering to diverse user behaviors in console design.