A forum discussion on the official Plex community boards reveals widespread frustration among users following what appears to be layoffs of the player development team. The timing coincides with significant technical issues affecting the Plex app across multiple platforms.
Users report critical bugs in the newly unified “New Experience” version of Plex clients. According to the forum thread, Dolby Vision 4K video content fails to play on Apple TV 4K, instead displaying an infinite spinning loading indicator. While HDR10 4K videos work properly, the same Dolby Vision files that play without issues on other devices remain stuck on the Apple TV app. Users have attempted standard troubleshooting steps—changing audio tracks, disabling Force Direct Play, and restarting—without success.
The issues extend across platforms. Users report the same Dolby Vision playback problem on iPhone and iPad, adding to concerns about the stability of Plex’s consolidated app architecture.
The layoffs appear to have become known through community discussion. Forum participants reference hearing about job losses at Plex and express concern about the company’s direction. One user stated, “Plex is obviously going down the toilet,” while another asked, “What are you guys doing over there?”
Frustration centers on two related issues: the technical failures and perceived mismanagement priorities. Users note that Plex appears to be investing heavily in advertising while simultaneously cutting development staff. One commenter stated, “Seems like Plex is spending millions on advertising and saying screw their developers.”
The technical problems have driven some users to alternative platforms. Several forum members report migrating to competing services like Jellyfin and Rivulet, citing the unreliable performance of Plex’s new unified client. Others express concern about unvetted third-party apps gaining traction as users seek workarounds.
Users have called for transparent communication from Plex leadership about the situation, product roadmap, and timeline for fixes. The lack of official response or acknowledgment appears to have amplified user dissatisfaction. One user wrote, “It’s extremely clear from the size of some of the recent ATV threads, Reddit and all of your socials that nobody is a fan of this update. Why not provide some insights or some form of response?”
Key facts
- Dolby Vision 4K video fails to play on Apple TV 4K, showing infinite loading spinner
- The same Dolby Vision files play without issues on other devices like TCL TVs
- Issues affect iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV platforms simultaneously
- Users report Plex appears to be prioritizing advertising over development resources
- Layoffs of the player development team are confirmed through community discussion
- Some users are migrating to alternative services like Jellyfin and Rivulet