Sony to close PlayStation Plus for PC on December 10 after reporting less than 0.4% usage
Sony will close the application PlayStation Plus for PC on December 10, 2026. The decision puts a date on the end of the Windows client that allows streaming access to a selection of the PlayStation catalog without running the games on the computer.
The company has announced the withdrawal in its announcement of the November PlayStation Plus catalog. The explanation provided is the low use of the application: less than 0.4% of eligible Premium subscribers use it.
A percentage referring to eligible Premium users
That 0.4% has a specific scope. Sony ties this to PlayStation Plus Premium members who can use the app, so it should not be interpreted as a percentage of all PC gamers, all console owners, or all PlayStation Plus subscribers.
The company has not accompanied the announcement of an absolute number of affected users. The published data allows us to know the reduced weight of the function within that group, but does not calculate how many people will lose access from Windows.
Sony says it periodically reviews its services to focus its resources on the experiences members use most. That is the business justification for the closure; The statement does not provide details about the cost of maintaining the application or its evolution of use.
Shutdown removes cloud gaming client for Windows
The application offers Premium subscribers streaming access to compatible PS4 games from the catalog and certain titles from the classics catalogue. The processing is done on Sony servers and the PC receives the game image.
For those who use that route, The change means losing access to the console catalog from the computer. The company has not announced a replacement application for PC or an adjustment to the Premium quota linked to the withdrawal of this feature.
PS Plus app support requires an adult account, a compatible controller, and a broadband connection. It allows you to navigate with a keyboard and mouse, but to play it requires a controller. Its documentation also points out limitations such as the absence of Party Chat and add-ons or DLC during streaming.
Local multiplayer, when supported by the title, is limited to two players on PC. Sony supports some third-party XInput controllers, but does not guarantee full compatibility.
The measure has a future date. The advertisement sets the December 10 as withdrawal dayso it is convenient to distinguish the communication of the closure from its effective execution.
What happens to saved games
Sony distinguishes between the data of a streamed game and that of a downloaded version. Cloud game gameplay is stored on PlayStation infrastructure; those of a downloaded game are saved to the console storage.
Official support explains that the transfer between both forms of play is not done automatically. To continue a compatible game in a downloaded version, you must copy the data to the PlayStation Plus online storage and then download it to the console.
In the PC application, the procedure involves opening the game, pressing the PS button on the controller and accessing saved data management. From there the data is copied from streaming storage to online storage. Specific menus may vary with the game.
This distinction allows you to prepare for the change of device. The closure announcement does not state that games will be deleted on December 10, but it also does not convert a streaming session into an installed copy of the game on the computer.
PS Remote Play maintains a different operation
PS Remote Play is another application. It allows games run on the user’s PS4 or PS5 to be transmitted to the computer, so it requires having the console. The announced closure refers to the PlayStation Plus client for playing from the Sony cloud.
Remote Play app is free and Sony calls for a connection of at least 5 Mbps, with 15 Mbps recommended to improve the experience. Its quality depends on the network used and the connection conditions, whether access is via cable or WiFi.
On Windows and Mac it allows you to use compatible controlsincluding DualShock 4 and DualSense. The computer acts as a screen and control device, while the console continues to run the game.
This difference conditions the available alternatives. Remote Play depends on the user’s hardware and does not replace the direct access to servers offered by the PS Plus application for PC.
Sony confirms that the withdrawal does not affect subscriptions or PlayStation Plus benefits available on PS4 and PS5. It also announces that it will contact affected users directly before the December 10 closure.
