Half of PS5 owners skip rest mode, opting for a full system shutdown instead. This surprising statistic, revealed by Sony's Cory Gasaway, prompted the design of the PS5's Welcome Hub, aiming for a unified user experience despite varying preferences. The reasons behind this rest mode avoidance remain diverse.
In a recent interview with Stephen Totilo, Gasaway disclosed that a significant 50% of PlayStation 5 users bypass the rest mode function. Rest mode, a key feature in modern consoles, allows for low-power operation while maintaining certain functions like downloads. The PS5's rest mode is designed to facilitate convenient downloads and game resumption.
Rest mode's importance within the PlayStation ecosystem is well-established. Pre-launch, Jim Ryan highlighted Sony's commitment to environmental responsibility, and rest mode contributes to reduced PS5 energy consumption compared to its predecessor. Yet, a considerable user segment chooses not to utilize it.
As reported by IGN, Gasaway (Sony Interactive Entertainment's VP of Game, Product, and Player Experiences) confirmed the 50/50 split between shutdown and rest mode usage in a Game File interview. This data informed the development of the PS5's Welcome Hub (introduced in 2024), detailed in Totilo's article.
The 50/50 Rest Mode Divide
The Welcome Hub, a project born from a PlayStation hackathon, directly addresses the half of PS5 users who forgo rest mode. Gasaway explained that the resulting PS5 Explore page is presented to 50% of US users upon startup, while users outside the US see their most recently played game. The Welcome Hub aims to create a more consistent and customizable starting point for all PS5 users.
No single reason explains the preference for either shutdown or rest mode. While rest mode conserves energy and supports background downloads, some users report internet connectivity issues, leading them to keep their consoles fully powered on for downloads. Others experience no such problems. Gasaway's insights provide valuable context regarding the PS5's UI design considerations.
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