Sony Strips Cloud Gaming From PC In Sudden PlayStation Plus Shift

Sony’s move into PC gaming didn’t last long, with the company pledging to return to a strategy driven by PlayStation console exclusives earlier this year. As part of its efforts to step back from providing its games or services on the PC, the company has announced that it plans to sunset the PlayStation Plus app next month.

News of the app’s impending demise was shared in a PlayStation blog post. According to Sony, “less than 0.4%” of users who are subscribed to PlayStation Plus Premium, which is the subscription tier needed for cloud streaming games, regularly accessed the service using the PC app. By no longer supporting the app, the company will be able to “focus on enhancing high-quality experiences that more of our members want to use.”


With this move, Sony is cutting off one of the easiest ways players could access the PlayStation games library without having to own one of its consoles. Now that this option will no longer be on the table, the PlayStation Portal, which has an intriguing new model on the way, is the most accessible way to access its library without having to shell out for a PS5 or hunt down a used PS4.

It’s a move that comes at a time when PS5 game emulation and jailbreaking is happening at breakneck speed, providing PC gamers with plenty of alternative options. While the user base for Sony's cloud gaming app was relatively small, dismissing customers willing to sign up for its most expensive subscription tier feels like a missed opportunity.

The PlayStation Plus app will officially shut down on December 10, giving gamers about a month to try and wrap up any games they might currently be playing.