Sony has announced the imminent closure of its PlayStation Plus app for PC, scheduled for December 10, 2026. As a result, PlayStation games will stop being available through cloud streaming on PC, meaning you’ll need to buy a console to run them.
Back in June, Sony backed out of releasing PlayStation exclusives on PC, turning its focus back towards consoles. This was surprising at the time, since Sony executive Shuhei Yoshida previously stated that game ports on PC were “almost like printing money.” For those unfamiliar, the PlayStation Plus app on PC allowed PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers to stream PS3 and PS4 games through the cloud, giving them access without owning a console.
While the list of available games was limited, players had access to some previous exclusives, such as Bloodborne and Shadow of the Colossus. You could even play classics, such as the Jak and Daxter collection. Unlike Remote Play, which requires a PlayStation console at home to act as a host, cloud streaming allowed subscribers to access games directly from Sony’s servers without a console.
While you needed a DualShock or DualSense controller for the best experience, it was cheaper than buying new hardware, especially for those only interested in a couple of exclusive titles. The company’s justification for this move is the low number of users, with Sony saying that less than 0.4% of PlayStation Plus Premium members actually used the PlayStation Plus app on PC. The firm adds that this change won’t affect PlayStation Plus memberships or benefits on consoles.
“With a very small number of eligible PlayStation Plus Premium members (less than 0.4%) using the PlayStation Plus app on PC, making this change allows us to focus on enhancing high-quality experiences that more of our members want to use,” said Sony. “As a result, the PlayStation Plus cloud streaming app on PC will no longer be available.”
While Sony can do whatever it pleases with its products, a 30-day notice period isn’t a long time, and that’s assuming users of the service will even spot the closure notice, seeing as it’s barely a footnote at the end of a blog post. I also launched the app on PC and received no warning that the app is planned to close soon; heck, the main page still invites you to subscribe to PS Plus.
