Summary
- 50% of PS5 users opt out of using rest mode, preferring to shut down their console completely.
- The Welcome Hub was introduced to provide a unified experience despite varied user preferences.
- Reasons for not using rest mode are diverse among players.
In an interview with Stephen Totilo, Cory Gasaway, Vice President of Game, Product, and Player Experiences at Sony Interactive Entertainment, revealed that half of PlayStation 5 users choose not to utilize the console's rest mode feature. Rest mode, a notable feature in recent console generations, allows gamers to keep their systems running for downloads and updates while saving energy. The PS5's rest mode is designed to facilitate convenient downloads and to keep games active for players engaged in critical gameplay moments.
Rest mode has long been a significant part of the PlayStation ecosystem. Jim Ryan, prior to the PS5's launch, emphasized the importance of environmental sustainability in Sony's mission, highlighting how rest mode contributes to reducing the console's power consumption compared to its predecessor. Despite this, a significant number of users still opt not to use it.
As reported by IGN, Cory Gasaway shared with Game File that PS5 users are evenly split between shutting down their console and using rest mode. This revelation came as part of a broader discussion by Stephen Totilo on the design of the PS5's Welcome Hub, introduced in 2024.
50% of PS5 Players Don't Use Rest Mode
The Welcome Hub, developed during a PlayStation hackathon, was a response to the fact that half of the console's users do not engage with the rest mode feature. Gasaway noted that in the United States, 50% of users would see the PS5 Explore page upon startup, while those outside the US would see a page for their most recently played game. The Welcome Hub aims to offer a more cohesive and universal starting point for PS5 users, featuring a customizable interface.
The reasons for avoiding rest mode vary among gamers. While it is typically used to save energy and allow for downloads and updates to run in the background, some players have reported issues with internet functionality when using rest mode, leading them to disable it and keep their console fully powered on during downloads. Others, however, find no issues with the feature. Cory Gasaway's insights shed light on the considerations that go into the PS5's user interface design, reflecting the diverse preferences of its user base.
