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, Vice President 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, a product of a PlayStation hackathon, aimed to create a unified user experience despite this stark division in rest mode usage. Gasaway explained the 50/50 split influenced the Hub's design, leading to a customized home screen experience: US users see the PS5 Explore page, while international users see their most recently played game. This approach aims to provide a more consistent and personalized starting point for all PS5 users.

While no single reason explains the widespread avoidance of rest mode, user forum discussions suggest potential contributing factors. Some players report internet connectivity issues when rest mode is enabled, preferring a fully powered-on console for downloads. Others appear to have no such problems and utilize the feature as intended. Regardless of the cause, Gasaway's insights offer valuable context into the PS5's user interface design process, demonstrating the importance of accommodating diverse user behaviors. The 50% figure underscores the need for flexible and adaptable console features that cater to a wide range of preferences.