Plex only has added a new level of subscription to its live TV and media streaming services: Plex Arcade, a cloud gaming service like Amazon Luna and Google Stadia, but focused entirely on retro arcade games.
The streaming company partnered with Parsec, another streaming company known for cloud gaming, to build a library full of Atari classics such as Asteroids, Centipede, Missile Command, and more. Plex also supports classic game ROMs, so if you have your own, you can add it to your Plex Arcade library.
“We’ve been flipping the idea for years and as over the past year we’ve been looking for new ways to entertain and distract ourselves, we’ve decided to finally make it happen,” Plex announced in a statement.
Parsec’s low-latency streaming technology made it easy for the Plex team to offer fully playable game libraries within its service.
Plex says its new arcade is a passion project and still a work in progress, but if it attracts a lot of subscribers, there’s definitely room to expand the service down the road. You can try Plex Arcade for free for seven days. After that it is’s $ 3 per month for existing Plex Pass subscribers, or $ 5 per month for non-subscribers.
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Plex Arcade requires a Windows or macOS Plex Media Server (sorry Linux users; no support for you at the moment), but it’s easy to set up and create a new games library. Plex Arcade supports Android (mobile and TV), iOS, tvOS and Chrome, and you can use any Bluetooth or USB game controller compatible with your favorite gaming platform, although Plex recommends using a Sony DualShock 4 or Xbox One controller. For Chrome-based gaming, a keyboard also works. You also need to link your Plex account to your Parsec account, but that’s part of the Plex Arcade setup. (Parsec accounts are free.)
The new service is available to try out nowso everyone can take it for a ride. You do need to enter your payment information, so if you’re only interested in the free trial, don’t forget to cancel before that period has expired.