PS5’s Awesome Welcome Hub Was Designed by a Small, Passionate Team

The user interface of the PlayStation 5 (PS5) has seen quicker updates compared to its predecessors, and it’s also embraced a greater degree of innovation in its design.

Last year, the personalizable main screen Welcome Hub on our console was unveiled quietly, and it has since been warmly embraced by countless users worldwide as a highly valued feature.

The origin, though, is somewhat unique. In a conversation with the Game File (subscription required), Cory Gasaway, who holds the position of Vice President in PlayStation’s Product, Games, and Player Experiences division, disclosed that the idea was birthed from an internal event similar to a collaborative coding marathon, which they call a “hackathon” – much like a Game Jam.

Gasaway mentioned that The Welcome Hub originated from a hackathon project, created by a dedicated team who share a common interest in this field. With our shared enthusiasm, we encouraged them to develop the project further, transforming it into what’s now the landing page seen by millions of players globally when they start their console.

An interesting aspect of the Welcome Hub is that it allows for personalization according to your preferences; whether you’re a collector of virtual awards (Trophies) or prefer a social gaming experience, you can customize the display accordingly. As per Gasaway’s findings, the DualSense battery level indicator and SSD storage tracker are two of the most frequently utilized widgets on the platform.

The idea can also be further developed, providing room for Sony to potentially incorporate additional features or tools (widgets) down the line. However, Gasaway declined to discuss any possible upcoming enhancements or developments.

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2025-01-06 08:36