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, VP 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, born from a PlayStation hackathon, aimed to create a more unified user experience despite this split preference. Gasaway noted that the Hub's design caters to this 50/50 split, presenting different default screens based on user location and gaming habits. For US users, the PS5 Explore page is displayed; for others, the most recently played game is featured. This suggests a deliberate effort to provide a customizable and consistent starting point for all PS5 users.

While the reasons behind the widespread avoidance of rest mode remain varied and anecdotal, some users report internet connectivity issues when rest mode is enabled, preferring to keep their consoles fully powered on for downloads. Others simply choose not to use it. Regardless of the cause, this data offers valuable insight into the user experience considerations shaping the PS5's interface design. The 50% figure underscores the importance of catering to diverse user behaviors and preferences in console development.