Survey Uncovers PS5 Sleep Mode Secrets

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 (Sony Interactive Entertainment's VP of game, product, and player experiences) in an interview with Stephen Totilo, highlights a significant design challenge for console manufacturers. The revelation came during a discussion about the PS5's Welcome Hub, a feature designed to create a more unified user experience despite varying player preferences.

The Welcome Hub itself, born from a PlayStation hackathon, directly addresses this split user base. Its design ensures that 50% of US users see the PS5 Explore page upon startup, while others see their most recently played game. This customizable approach aims to provide a consistent yet personalized entry point to the PS5 experience.

While the reasons behind the rest mode avoidance remain varied and anecdotal, some players report internet connectivity issues when rest mode is enabled, leading them to keep their consoles fully powered on for downloads. Others appear to have no such problems. Regardless of the specific cause, Gasaway's insight underscores the complexities of UI/UX design and the importance of catering to a diverse range of user behaviors, even when it comes to seemingly straightforward features like rest mode. The 50/50 split demonstrates that even well-intentioned energy-saving features aren't universally adopted.