Half of PS5 Owners Shun Rest Mode: A UI Design Revelation

A surprising statistic has emerged regarding PlayStation 5 usage: a full 50% of PS5 users bypass the console's rest mode, opting instead for a complete system shutdown. This revelation, shared by Cory Gasaway, Sony Interactive Entertainment's VP of Game, Product, and Player Experiences, during an interview with Stephen Totilo, sheds light on the design choices behind the PS5's Welcome Hub.

Rest mode, a power-saving feature designed to facilitate downloads and maintain game sessions, has been a key element of recent console generations. Sony, emphasizing environmental responsibility, promoted the PS5's rest mode as a significant improvement over its predecessor's power consumption. Despite this, a significant portion of the user base remains unconvinced.

The even split between rest mode users and those who shut down their consoles directly influenced the design of the PS5's Welcome Hub, introduced in 2024. Developed during a PlayStation hackathon, the Welcome Hub aims to provide a unified user experience, accommodating diverse preferences. The interface dynamically adapts, presenting US users with the PS5 Explore page and international users with their most recently played game. This customizable starting point seeks to create a more cohesive experience across all PS5 systems.

While no single reason definitively explains the aversion to rest mode, user forum discussions suggest potential issues. Some players report internet connectivity problems associated with rest mode, leading them to keep their consoles fully powered on for downloads. Others, however, experience no such difficulties. Regardless of the cause, Gasaway's insights underscore the complexities of UI design and the importance of considering diverse user behaviors. The data highlights the need for console manufacturers to cater to a broad spectrum of user preferences and technical considerations.