Survey Shows Vast Majority Choose Rest Mode Over Powering Off PS5s

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 finding influenced the design of the PS5's Welcome Hub, a feature introduced in 2024 to create a more unified user experience despite varying preferences.

Gasaway's comments, shared in an interview with Stephen Totilo, indicate a 50/50 split between users who power down their PS5s completely and those who utilize rest mode. While rest mode is designed to conserve energy and facilitate convenient downloads and game resumption, a substantial portion of the user base avoids it.

This data, initially observed by IGN, played a key role in the development of the PS5's Welcome Hub. A team conceived the Hub during a PlayStation hackathon, directly addressing the observed rest mode usage disparity. The Hub's design aims to provide a consistent starting point for all users, regardless of their rest mode habits, featuring a customizable interface and personalized content feeds (e.g., the PS5 Explore page for US users, or the last played game for international users).

The reasons behind the avoidance of rest mode remain varied and anecdotal. Some users report internet connectivity issues linked to rest mode, preferring a fully powered-on console for downloads. Others simply choose not to use it, suggesting a lack of compelling reasons for its adoption. Nevertheless, Gasaway's insights offer valuable context into the design considerations behind the PS5's user interface.

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