Plex has confirmed that it will require a Remote Watch Pass or Plex Pass for remote streaming on its TV apps. The change is going into effect for the Roku app first, followed by all other TV apps and third-party clients in 2026.
Earlier this year, Plex increased its pricing for Plex Pass and stopped supporting all options for free remote streaming in the Plex apps, such as adding a custom server connection in the app settings. The company said at the time, “The reality is that we need more resources to continue putting forth the best personal media experience, and as a result, we will no longer offer remote playback as a free feature.” That’s also when Plex introduced the Remote Watch Pass as a less expensive way to enable remote streaming again.
Plex is now rolling out the remote watch changes to its Roku TV app. If you have Plex Pass, or the owner of the server you’re streaming from has Plex Pass, you don’t need to do anything. Otherwise, if you are streaming on a different network from the server’s home network, you need Plex Pass or Remote Watch Pass.
I mean, if you already have a lifetime pass, it’s not like you’re giving them anymore money or supporting them from here on out. Not sure how that’s “fuck you, got mine.” Who exactly is being fucked here? It would make more sense if Plex had a limited number of passes that people hoarded early on like boomers with property. In this case the financial side of things is already a done deal, and doesn’t somehow deprive others of a resource.
You’re saying you bought a pass, fuck all the people that didn’t buy a pass. Sure other people could buy a pass, but why would you want to encourage them to do that and incentivize the further enshitifcaiton of Plex?
I don’t think OP said literally any of that, so I’m confused. OP already has a lifetime Plex pass, so OP is sticking with plex, since as the server owner, a plex pass covers everyone streaming from their server.
I’m still not sure who’s being fucked in the context of what OP wrote. Either way, nothing OP is doing is financially supporting Plex, because that ship already sailed back when they bought a lifetime pass.
I’ve been using Plex form 2009-2010 and have watched it slowly enshitify. The purpose of the software was to allow people to host their own media server and making it accessible anywhere. The pass was a nice way to thank the devs and get some small perks. Now it seems like they are yet again stripping features from basic users.
The op’s stance of “I have a pass so it doesn’t affect me” is further supporting and encouraging the enshitifcaiton of what used to be a good service for anybody. Jellyfin seems to be the way to go now.