PlayStation Reveals How Many Gamers Turn Off Their PS5 Compared to Putting It in Rest Mode

Half of PlayStation 5 users shun rest mode, opting for a complete system shutdown instead. This surprising statistic, revealed by Sony's Cory Gasaway, prompted the development of the PS5's Welcome Hub, a feature designed to create a unified user experience despite varied preferences. The reasons behind this rest mode aversion remain diverse and unclear.

In a recent interview with Stephen Totilo, Gasaway disclosed that a significant 50% of PS5 users bypass the rest mode functionality. Rest mode, a key feature in modern consoles, allows for low-power operation while maintaining certain functions like downloads. The PS5's implementation aims to streamline downloads and preserve game sessions.

Rest mode's importance within the PlayStation ecosystem has been long recognized. Pre-launch, Jim Ryan highlighted Sony's commitment to environmental responsibility, a goal partly achieved through rest mode's energy-saving capabilities. Despite these benefits, a substantial user base continues to avoid it.

As reported by IGN, Gasaway, Sony Interactive Entertainment's VP of game, product, and player experiences, confirmed the 50/50 split in user behavior to Game File. This data informed the design of the 2024-introduced Welcome Hub, as detailed in Totilo's article.

The Welcome Hub's Genesis: Addressing Diverse User Habits

The Welcome Hub, born from a PlayStation hackathon, directly addresses this preference split. Gasaway explained that the Hub's design ensures a consistent experience, directing US users to the PS5 Explore page and other users to their most recently played game. This centralized starting point, featuring a customizable interface, aims to bridge the gap between differing usage patterns.

The reasons behind individual choices regarding rest mode remain varied. While energy conservation is a primary benefit, some users report internet connectivity issues related to rest mode, preferring a fully powered-on console for downloads. Others experience no such problems. Gasaway's insights offer valuable context into the PS5's UI design process, highlighting the influence of user data on fundamental design decisions.

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