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, where Gasaway discussed the design philosophy behind the PS5's Welcome Hub, introduced in 2024.

The Welcome Hub, a product of a PlayStation hackathon, directly addresses this 50/50 split in rest mode usage. Its design aims to create a unified user experience despite varying preferences. For US users, the Hub defaults to the PS5 Explore page; internationally, it displays the last played game. This customizable interface offers a consistent starting point across all PS5 consoles.

While no single reason explains the widespread avoidance of rest mode, user forum discussions suggest potential contributing factors. Some users report internet connectivity issues when rest mode is enabled, preferring a fully powered-on console for downloads. Others experience no such problems and utilize the feature as intended—to conserve energy while facilitating background downloads and updates.

Regardless of the underlying reasons, Gasaway's insight offers valuable context into the PS5's user interface design, demonstrating Sony's efforts to accommodate diverse user behaviors. The 50% figure underscores the importance of considering a wide range of user preferences when developing console features and user experiences.