Half of PlayStation 5 users bypass 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. The Hub aims to create a unified user experience despite varied player preferences.
Gasaway, Sony Interactive Entertainment's VP of game, product, and player experiences, shared in an interview with Stephen Totilo that a 50/50 split exists between users who shut down their PS5 completely and those who utilize rest mode. This data, highlighted by IGN, informed the design of the 2024-introduced Welcome Hub. The Hub, initially conceived during a PlayStation hackathon, addresses the diverse usage patterns observed. For example, 50% of US users see the PS5 Explore page upon startup, while users outside the US see their most recently played game.
The Welcome Hub offers a more consistent and customizable starting point for PS5 users. While no single reason explains the avoidance of rest mode, some users report internet connectivity issues when using it, preferring to leave their consoles fully powered on for downloads. Others experience no such problems. Regardless, Gasaway's insights shed light on the design considerations behind the PS5's user interface. The split usage of rest mode underscores the importance of accommodating diverse user behaviors in console design.
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