diff --git a/autotests/integration/kwin_wayland_test.cpp b/autotests/integration/kwin_wayland_test.cpp
index f315bf0872..77bf19939d 100644
--- a/autotests/integration/kwin_wayland_test.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/kwin_wayland_test.cpp
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 */
 #include "kwin_wayland_test.h"
 
+#include "backends/virtual/virtual_backend.h"
 #include "composite.h"
 #include "effects.h"
 #include "inputmethod.h"
@@ -67,12 +68,7 @@ WaylandTestApplication::WaylandTestApplication(OperationMode mode, int &argc, ch
     removeLibraryPath(ownPath);
     addLibraryPath(ownPath);
 
-    const KPluginMetaData plugin = KPluginMetaData::findPluginById(QStringLiteral("org.kde.kwin.waylandbackends"), "KWinWaylandVirtualBackend");
-    if (!plugin.isValid()) {
-        quit();
-        return;
-    }
-    initPlatform(plugin);
+    setPlatform(std::make_unique<VirtualBackend>());
     WaylandServer::create(this);
     setProcessStartupEnvironment(QProcessEnvironment::systemEnvironment());
 }
diff --git a/autotests/test_x11_timestamp_update.cpp b/autotests/test_x11_timestamp_update.cpp
index 744d6bdef4..fcc8dec95b 100644
--- a/autotests/test_x11_timestamp_update.cpp
+++ b/autotests/test_x11_timestamp_update.cpp
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@
 #include <QX11Info>
 #endif
 
-#include <KPluginMetaData>
-
 #include "main.h"
 #include "utils/common.h"
 
@@ -38,20 +36,6 @@ X11TestApplication::X11TestApplication(int &argc, char **argv)
 {
     setX11Connection(QX11Info::connection());
     setX11RootWindow(QX11Info::appRootWindow());
-
-    // move directory containing executable to front, so that KPluginMetaData::findPluginById prefers the plugins in
-    // the build dir over system installed ones
-    const auto ownPath = libraryPaths().last();
-    removeLibraryPath(ownPath);
-    addLibraryPath(ownPath);
-
-    const KPluginMetaData plugin = KPluginMetaData::findPluginById(QStringLiteral("org.kde.kwin.platforms"),
-                                                                   QStringLiteral("KWinX11Platform"));
-    if (!plugin.isValid()) {
-        quit();
-        return;
-    }
-    initPlatform(plugin);
 }
 
 X11TestApplication::~X11TestApplication()
diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index 1be1dde262..12876fe934 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -287,6 +287,7 @@ generate_export_header(kwin EXPORT_FILE_NAME kwin_export.h)
 
 add_executable(kwin_x11 main_x11.cpp)
 target_link_libraries(kwin_x11
+    KWinX11Platform
     kwin
     KF5::Crash
 )
diff --git a/src/backends/drm/CMakeLists.txt b/src/backends/drm/CMakeLists.txt
index 3958822ecf..662c7fa00d 100644
--- a/src/backends/drm/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/backends/drm/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-set(DRM_SOURCES
+target_sources(kwin PRIVATE
     drm_backend.cpp
     drm_object.cpp
     drm_property.cpp
@@ -31,13 +31,4 @@ set(DRM_SOURCES
     egl_gbm_cursor_layer.cpp
 )
 
-add_library(KWinWaylandDrmBackend MODULE ${DRM_SOURCES})
-set_target_properties(KWinWaylandDrmBackend PROPERTIES LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin/org.kde.kwin.waylandbackends/")
-target_link_libraries(KWinWaylandDrmBackend kwin Libdrm::Libdrm gbm::gbm PkgConfig::Libxcvt)
-
-install(
-    TARGETS
-        KWinWaylandDrmBackend
-    DESTINATION
-        ${KDE_INSTALL_PLUGINDIR}/org.kde.kwin.waylandbackends/
-)
+target_link_libraries(kwin Libdrm::Libdrm gbm::gbm PkgConfig::Libxcvt)
diff --git a/src/backends/drm/drm.json b/src/backends/drm/drm.json
deleted file mode 100644
index 69eed18bcb..0000000000
--- a/src/backends/drm/drm.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,92 +0,0 @@
-{
-    "KPlugin": {
-        "Description": "Render through drm node.",
-        "Description[ar]": "التصيير عن طريق drm.",
-        "Description[az]": "DRM vasitəsi ilə formalaşdırmaq.",
-        "Description[bg]": "Рендериране през drm възел.",
-        "Description[ca@valencia]": "Renderitza mitjançant el node del DRM.",
-        "Description[ca]": "Renderitza mitjançant el node del DRM.",
-        "Description[da]": "Render igennem drm-knude.",
-        "Description[de]": "In DRM-Knoten rendern.",
-        "Description[el]": "Αποτύπωση μέσω λειτουργίας drm.",
-        "Description[en_GB]": "Render through drm node.",
-        "Description[es]": "Renderizar a través del nodo DRM.",
-        "Description[et]": "Renderdamine drm režiimis.",
-        "Description[eu]": "Errendatu DRM-korapilunea erabiliz.",
-        "Description[fi]": "Hahmonna DRM-solmun läpi.",
-        "Description[fr]": "Rendre par le biais d'un nœud de rendu « DRM ».",
-        "Description[gl]": "Renderizar a través dun nodo de DRM.",
-        "Description[hu]": "Renderelés drm node-on.",
-        "Description[ia]": "Render a transverso nodo drm.",
-        "Description[id]": "Render melalui simpul drm.",
-        "Description[it]": "Resa tramite nodo drm.",
-        "Description[ko]": "DRM 노드로 렌더링합니다.",
-        "Description[lt]": "Atvaizduoti per drm veikseną.",
-        "Description[nl]": "Via drm-node renderen.",
-        "Description[nn]": "Teikn opp gjennom drm-node.",
-        "Description[pa]": "ਡੀਆਰਐਮ ਨੋਡ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਰੈਂਡਰ।",
-        "Description[pl]": "Wyświetlaj przez węzeł drm.",
-        "Description[pt]": "Desenhar através de um nó DRM.",
-        "Description[pt_BR]": "Renderizar pelo nó de DRM.",
-        "Description[ro]": "Randează prin nod DRM.",
-        "Description[ru]": "Отрисовка через DRM",
-        "Description[sk]": "Renderovať cez režim drm.",
-        "Description[sl]": "Izriši preko vozlišča drm.",
-        "Description[sr@ijekavian]": "Рендеровање кроз ДРМ чвор.",
-        "Description[sr@ijekavianlatin]": "Renderovanje kroz DRM čvor.",
-        "Description[sr@latin]": "Renderovanje kroz DRM čvor.",
-        "Description[sr]": "Рендеровање кроз ДРМ чвор.",
-        "Description[sv]": "Återge via DRM-nod.",
-        "Description[tr]": "Drm düğümü aracılığıyla gerçekle.",
-        "Description[uk]": "Обробляти через вузол DRM.",
-        "Description[vi]": "Kết xuất qua nút drm.",
-        "Description[x-test]": "xxRender through drm node.xx",
-        "Description[zh_CN]": "通过 drm 节点渲染。",
-        "Description[zh_TW]": "透過 drm 節點成像。",
-        "Id": "KWinWaylandDrmBackend",
-        "Name": "drm",
-        "Name[ar]": "drm",
-        "Name[az]": "drm",
-        "Name[bg]": "drm",
-        "Name[ca@valencia]": "DRM",
-        "Name[ca]": "DRM",
-        "Name[cs]": "drm",
-        "Name[da]": "drm",
-        "Name[de]": "DRM",
-        "Name[el]": "drm",
-        "Name[en_GB]": "drm",
-        "Name[es]": "drm",
-        "Name[et]": "drm",
-        "Name[eu]": "DRM",
-        "Name[fi]": "drm",
-        "Name[fr]": "drm",
-        "Name[gl]": "drm",
-        "Name[hu]": "drm",
-        "Name[ia]": "drm",
-        "Name[id]": "drm",
-        "Name[it]": "drm",
-        "Name[ko]": "drm",
-        "Name[lt]": "drm",
-        "Name[nl]": "drm",
-        "Name[nn]": "drm",
-        "Name[pa]": "ਡੀਆਰਐਮ",
-        "Name[pl]": "drm",
-        "Name[pt]": "DRM",
-        "Name[pt_BR]": "drm",
-        "Name[ro]": "drm",
-        "Name[ru]": "drm",
-        "Name[sk]": "drm",
-        "Name[sl]": "drm",
-        "Name[sr@ijekavian]": "ДРМ",
-        "Name[sr@ijekavianlatin]": "DRM",
-        "Name[sr@latin]": "DRM",
-        "Name[sr]": "ДРМ",
-        "Name[sv]": "DRM",
-        "Name[tr]": "drm",
-        "Name[uk]": "drm",
-        "Name[vi]": "drm",
-        "Name[x-test]": "xxdrmxx",
-        "Name[zh_CN]": "drm",
-        "Name[zh_TW]": "drm"
-    }
-}
diff --git a/src/backends/drm/drm_backend.h b/src/backends/drm/drm_backend.h
index bb70010685..21770b4574 100644
--- a/src/backends/drm/drm_backend.h
+++ b/src/backends/drm/drm_backend.h
@@ -37,8 +37,7 @@ class DrmRenderBackend;
 class KWIN_EXPORT DrmBackend : public Platform
 {
     Q_OBJECT
-    Q_INTERFACES(KWin::Platform)
-    Q_PLUGIN_METADATA(IID "org.kde.kwin.Platform" FILE "drm.json")
+
 public:
     explicit DrmBackend(QObject *parent = nullptr);
     ~DrmBackend() override;
diff --git a/src/backends/virtual/CMakeLists.txt b/src/backends/virtual/CMakeLists.txt
index f411f26266..b0c06092fe 100644
--- a/src/backends/virtual/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/backends/virtual/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,18 +1,7 @@
-add_library(KWinWaylandVirtualBackend MODULE)
-target_sources(KWinWaylandVirtualBackend PRIVATE
+target_sources(kwin PRIVATE
     egl_gbm_backend.cpp
     logging.cpp
     scene_qpainter_virtual_backend.cpp
     virtual_backend.cpp
     virtual_output.cpp
 )
-
-set_target_properties(KWinWaylandVirtualBackend PROPERTIES LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin/org.kde.kwin.waylandbackends/")
-target_link_libraries(KWinWaylandVirtualBackend kwin)
-
-install(
-    TARGETS
-        KWinWaylandVirtualBackend
-    DESTINATION
-        ${KDE_INSTALL_PLUGINDIR}/org.kde.kwin.waylandbackends/
-)
diff --git a/src/backends/virtual/egl_gbm_backend.cpp b/src/backends/virtual/egl_gbm_backend.cpp
index b45f075ce8..abc8b7a8fb 100644
--- a/src/backends/virtual/egl_gbm_backend.cpp
+++ b/src/backends/virtual/egl_gbm_backend.cpp
@@ -10,10 +10,10 @@
 // kwin
 #include "basiceglsurfacetexture_internal.h"
 #include "basiceglsurfacetexture_wayland.h"
+#include "logging.h"
 #include "softwarevsyncmonitor.h"
 #include "virtual_backend.h"
 #include "virtual_output.h"
-#include <logging.h>
 // kwin libs
 #include <kwinglutils.h>
 
diff --git a/src/backends/virtual/virtual.json b/src/backends/virtual/virtual.json
deleted file mode 100644
index 4d9ed95255..0000000000
--- a/src/backends/virtual/virtual.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,92 +0,0 @@
-{
-    "KPlugin": {
-        "Description": "Render to a virtual framebuffer.",
-        "Description[ar]": "التصيير إلى framebuffer افتراضي",
-        "Description[az]": "Virtual çərçivə tamponunun formalaşdırılması.",
-        "Description[bg]": "Рендериране към виртуален framebuffer.",
-        "Description[ca@valencia]": "Renderitza a un «framebuffer» virtual.",
-        "Description[ca]": "Renderitza a un «framebuffer» virtual.",
-        "Description[da]": "Rendér til en virtuel framebuffer.",
-        "Description[de]": "In virtuellen Framebuffer rendern.",
-        "Description[el]": "Αποτύπωση σε εικονική ενδιάμεση μνήμη πλαισίων.",
-        "Description[en_GB]": "Render to a virtual framebuffer.",
-        "Description[es]": "Renderizar en un «framebuffer» virtual.",
-        "Description[et]": "Renderdamine virtuaalses kaadripuhvris.",
-        "Description[eu]": "Errendatu alegiazko framebuffer batera.",
-        "Description[fi]": "Hahmonna virtuaaliseen framebufferiin.",
-        "Description[fr]": "Rendre sur un « framebuffer » factice.",
-        "Description[gl]": "Renderizar nun búfer de fotogramas virtual.",
-        "Description[hu]": "Renderelés egy virtuális framebufferbe.",
-        "Description[ia]": "Render a un framebuffer virtual.",
-        "Description[id]": "Render untuk sebuah virtual framebuffer.",
-        "Description[it]": "Resa su un framebuffer virtuale.",
-        "Description[ko]": "가상 프레임버퍼에 렌더링합니다.",
-        "Description[lt]": "Atvaizduoti į virtualų vaizdų atnaujinimo buferį.",
-        "Description[nl]": "Naar een virtuele framebuffer renderen.",
-        "Description[nn]": "Teikn opp til virtuell biletbuffer.",
-        "Description[pa]": "ਵਰਚੁਅਲ ਫ਼ਰੇਮਬਫ਼ਰ ਲਈ ਰੈਂਡਰ।",
-        "Description[pl]": "Wyświetlaj w wirtualnym buforze klatek.",
-        "Description[pt]": "Desenhar num 'framebuffer' virtual.",
-        "Description[pt_BR]": "Renderizar no framebuffer virtual.",
-        "Description[ro]": "Randează pe framebuffer virtual.",
-        "Description[ru]": "Отрисовка в виртуальный фреймбуфер",
-        "Description[sk]": "Renderovať na virtuálny framebuffer.",
-        "Description[sl]": "Izriši v navidezni medpomnilnik sličic.",
-        "Description[sr@ijekavian]": "Рендеровање у виртуелни кадробафер.",
-        "Description[sr@ijekavianlatin]": "Renderovanje u virtuelni kadrobafer.",
-        "Description[sr@latin]": "Renderovanje u virtuelni kadrobafer.",
-        "Description[sr]": "Рендеровање у виртуелни кадробафер.",
-        "Description[sv]": "Återge i en virtuell rambuffer.",
-        "Description[tr]": "Sanal bir çerçeve tamponuna gerçekle.",
-        "Description[uk]": "Обробляти до віртуального буфера кадрів.",
-        "Description[vi]": "Kết xuất vào một framebuffer ảo.",
-        "Description[x-test]": "xxRender to a virtual framebuffer.xx",
-        "Description[zh_CN]": "渲染到虚拟帧缓冲区。",
-        "Description[zh_TW]": "成像到虛擬影格緩衝區。",
-        "Id": "KWinWaylandVirtualBackend",
-        "Name": "virtual",
-        "Name[ar]": "افتراضي",
-        "Name[az]": "virtual",
-        "Name[bg]": "виртуален",
-        "Name[ca@valencia]": "Virtual",
-        "Name[ca]": "Virtual",
-        "Name[cs]": "virtuální",
-        "Name[da]": "virtuel",
-        "Name[de]": "Virtuell",
-        "Name[el]": "εικονικό",
-        "Name[en_GB]": "virtual",
-        "Name[es]": "virtual",
-        "Name[et]": "virtual",
-        "Name[eu]": "alegiazkoa",
-        "Name[fi]": "virtual",
-        "Name[fr]": "virtual",
-        "Name[gl]": "virtual",
-        "Name[hu]": "virtuális",
-        "Name[ia]": "virtual",
-        "Name[id]": "virtual",
-        "Name[it]": "virtual",
-        "Name[ko]": "virtual",
-        "Name[lt]": "virtualus",
-        "Name[nl]": "virtueel",
-        "Name[nn]": "virtuell",
-        "Name[pa]": "ਵਰਚੁਅਲ",
-        "Name[pl]": "wirtualne",
-        "Name[pt]": "virtual",
-        "Name[pt_BR]": "virtual",
-        "Name[ro]": "virtual",
-        "Name[ru]": "virtual",
-        "Name[sk]": "virtual",
-        "Name[sl]": "navidezno",
-        "Name[sr@ijekavian]": "Виртуелно",
-        "Name[sr@ijekavianlatin]": "Virtuelno",
-        "Name[sr@latin]": "Virtuelno",
-        "Name[sr]": "Виртуелно",
-        "Name[sv]": "virtuell",
-        "Name[tr]": "sanal",
-        "Name[uk]": "virtual",
-        "Name[vi]": "ảo",
-        "Name[x-test]": "xxvirtualxx",
-        "Name[zh_CN]": "virtual",
-        "Name[zh_TW]": "虛擬"
-    }
-}
diff --git a/src/backends/virtual/virtual_backend.h b/src/backends/virtual/virtual_backend.h
index e3fb3d5a78..06ce0b5eb5 100644
--- a/src/backends/virtual/virtual_backend.h
+++ b/src/backends/virtual/virtual_backend.h
@@ -25,8 +25,6 @@ class VirtualOutput;
 class KWIN_EXPORT VirtualBackend : public Platform
 {
     Q_OBJECT
-    Q_INTERFACES(KWin::Platform)
-    Q_PLUGIN_METADATA(IID "org.kde.kwin.Platform" FILE "virtual.json")
 
 public:
     VirtualBackend(QObject *parent = nullptr);
diff --git a/src/backends/wayland/CMakeLists.txt b/src/backends/wayland/CMakeLists.txt
index 3fd9860f78..14d911e7d2 100644
--- a/src/backends/wayland/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/backends/wayland/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-set(WAYLAND_BACKEND_SOURCES
+target_sources(kwin PRIVATE
     logging.cpp
     scene_qpainter_wayland_backend.cpp
     wayland_backend.cpp
@@ -6,20 +6,10 @@ set(WAYLAND_BACKEND_SOURCES
 )
 
 if (HAVE_WAYLAND_EGL)
-    set(WAYLAND_BACKEND_SOURCES egl_wayland_backend.cpp ${WAYLAND_BACKEND_SOURCES})
+    target_sources(kwin PRIVATE egl_wayland_backend.cpp)
 endif()
 
-add_library(KWinWaylandWaylandBackend MODULE ${WAYLAND_BACKEND_SOURCES})
-set_target_properties(KWinWaylandWaylandBackend PROPERTIES LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin/org.kde.kwin.waylandbackends/")
-target_link_libraries(KWinWaylandWaylandBackend kwin KF5::WaylandClient)
-
+target_link_libraries(kwin KF5::WaylandClient)
 if (HAVE_WAYLAND_EGL)
-    target_link_libraries(KWinWaylandWaylandBackend Wayland::Egl gbm::gbm)
+    target_link_libraries(kwin Wayland::Egl gbm::gbm)
 endif()
-
-install(
-    TARGETS
-        KWinWaylandWaylandBackend
-    DESTINATION
-        ${KDE_INSTALL_PLUGINDIR}/org.kde.kwin.waylandbackends/
-)
diff --git a/src/backends/wayland/wayland.json b/src/backends/wayland/wayland.json
deleted file mode 100644
index ebfe5a1efc..0000000000
--- a/src/backends/wayland/wayland.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,91 +0,0 @@
-{
-    "KPlugin": {
-        "Description": "Render to a nested window on running Wayland compositor.",
-        "Description[ar]": "التصيير إلى نافذة متداخلة تعمل على مؤلف ويلاند.",
-        "Description[az]": "Wayland birləşdiricisində iç-içə keçmiş pəncərələri formalaşdırmaq.",
-        "Description[bg]": "Рендериране към вложен прозорец на Wayland",
-        "Description[ca@valencia]": "Renderitza a una finestra imbricada en un compositor Wayland en execució.",
-        "Description[ca]": "Renderitza a una finestra imbricada en un compositor Wayland en execució.",
-        "Description[da]": "Rendér til et indlejret vindue på kørende Wayland-compositor.",
-        "Description[de]": "In ein eingebettetes Fenster auf dem laufenden Wayland-Kompositor rendern.",
-        "Description[el]": "Αποτύπωση σε εμφωλευμένο παράθυρο κατά την εκτέλεση του συνθέτη Wayland.",
-        "Description[en_GB]": "Render to a nested window on running Wayland compositor.",
-        "Description[es]": "Renderizar en una ventana anidada en el compositor Wayland en ejecución.",
-        "Description[et]": "Renderdamine töötava Waylandi komposiitori pesastatud aknas.",
-        "Description[eu]": "Errendatu Wayland konposatzailean habiaratutako leiho batera.",
-        "Description[fi]": "Hahmonna sisäkkäiseen ikkunaan, jota hallitsee Wayland-koostin.",
-        "Description[fr]": "Rendre sur une fenêtre imbriquée sur un compositeur Wayland en cours de fonctionnement.",
-        "Description[gl]": "Renderizar unha xanela aniñada no compositor de Wayland en execución.",
-        "Description[hu]": "Renderelés egy Wayland kompozitoron futó beágyazott ablakba.",
-        "Description[ia]": "Render a un fenestra annidate sur compositor Wayland executante. ",
-        "Description[id]": "Render untuk sebuah window tersarang pada Wayland compositor yang berjalan.",
-        "Description[it]": "Resa in una finestra nidificata su compositore Wayland in esecuzione.",
-        "Description[ko]": "Wayland 컴포지터에서 실행 중인 창에 렌더링합니다.",
-        "Description[lt]": "Atvaizduoti į įdėtinį langą, veikiančiame Wayland kompozitoriuje.",
-        "Description[nl]": "Render naar een genest venster in een werkende Wayland-compositor.",
-        "Description[nn]": "Teikn opp til innebygd vindauge på køyrande Wayland-samansetjar.",
-        "Description[pl]": "Wyświetlaj w zagnieżdżonym oknie w kompozytorze Wayland.",
-        "Description[pt]": "Desenhar numa janela encadeada no compositor de Wayland em execução.",
-        "Description[pt_BR]": "Renderizar uma janela encadeada no compositor Wayland em execução.",
-        "Description[ro]": "Randează într-o fereastră imbricată pe compozitorul Wayland activ.",
-        "Description[ru]": "Отрисовка во вложенное окно компоновщика Wayland.",
-        "Description[sk]": "Renderovať na vnorené okno na bežiaci kompozítor Wayland.",
-        "Description[sl]": "Izriši v gnezdeno okno na upravljalniku skladnje Wayland.",
-        "Description[sr@ijekavian]": "Рендеровање у угнежђени прозор на вејланд слагачу.",
-        "Description[sr@ijekavianlatin]": "Renderovanje u ugnežđeni prozor na Wayland slagaču.",
-        "Description[sr@latin]": "Renderovanje u ugnežđeni prozor na Wayland slagaču.",
-        "Description[sr]": "Рендеровање у угнежђени прозор на вејланд слагачу.",
-        "Description[sv]": "Återge till ett nästlat fönster på Wayland-sammansättare som kör.",
-        "Description[tr]": "Wayland bileşikleştiricisi çalıştıran iç içe geçmiş bir pencerede gerçekle.",
-        "Description[uk]": "Обробляти у вкладене вікно запущеного засобу композиції Wayland.",
-        "Description[vi]": "Kết xuất vào một cửa sổ lồng trong trình kết hợp Wayland đang chạy.",
-        "Description[x-test]": "xxRender to a nested window on running Wayland compositor.xx",
-        "Description[zh_CN]": "渲染到运行在 Wayland 显示特效合成器中的嵌套窗口。",
-        "Description[zh_TW]": "成像到執行中的 Wayland 的巢狀視窗。",
-        "Id": "KWinWaylandWaylandBackend",
-        "Name": "wayland",
-        "Name[ar]": "ويلاند",
-        "Name[az]": "wayland",
-        "Name[bg]": "wayland",
-        "Name[ca@valencia]": "Wayland",
-        "Name[ca]": "Wayland",
-        "Name[cs]": "wayland",
-        "Name[da]": "wayland",
-        "Name[de]": "Wayland",
-        "Name[el]": "wayland",
-        "Name[en_GB]": "wayland",
-        "Name[es]": "wayland",
-        "Name[et]": "wayland",
-        "Name[eu]": "wayland",
-        "Name[fi]": "wayland",
-        "Name[fr]": "wayland",
-        "Name[gl]": "wayland",
-        "Name[hu]": "wayland",
-        "Name[ia]": "wayland",
-        "Name[id]": "wayland",
-        "Name[it]": "wayland",
-        "Name[ko]": "wayland",
-        "Name[lt]": "wayland",
-        "Name[nl]": "wayland",
-        "Name[nn]": "wayland",
-        "Name[pa]": "ਵੇਲੈਂਡ",
-        "Name[pl]": "wayland",
-        "Name[pt]": "Wayland",
-        "Name[pt_BR]": "wayland",
-        "Name[ro]": "wayland",
-        "Name[ru]": "wayland",
-        "Name[sk]": "wayland",
-        "Name[sl]": "wayland",
-        "Name[sr@ijekavian]": "Вејланд",
-        "Name[sr@ijekavianlatin]": "Wayland",
-        "Name[sr@latin]": "Wayland",
-        "Name[sr]": "Вејланд",
-        "Name[sv]": "Wayland",
-        "Name[tr]": "wayland",
-        "Name[uk]": "wayland",
-        "Name[vi]": "wayland",
-        "Name[x-test]": "xxwaylandxx",
-        "Name[zh_CN]": "wayland",
-        "Name[zh_TW]": "wayland"
-    }
-}
diff --git a/src/backends/wayland/wayland_backend.h b/src/backends/wayland/wayland_backend.h
index 963d51012c..edc9930ab5 100644
--- a/src/backends/wayland/wayland_backend.h
+++ b/src/backends/wayland/wayland_backend.h
@@ -247,8 +247,7 @@ private:
 class KWIN_EXPORT WaylandBackend : public Platform
 {
     Q_OBJECT
-    Q_INTERFACES(KWin::Platform)
-    Q_PLUGIN_METADATA(IID "org.kde.kwin.Platform" FILE "wayland.json")
+
 public:
     explicit WaylandBackend(QObject *parent = nullptr);
     ~WaylandBackend() override;
diff --git a/src/backends/x11/common/CMakeLists.txt b/src/backends/x11/common/CMakeLists.txt
index 2b0c4d43d8..a2bbe179b7 100644
--- a/src/backends/x11/common/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/backends/x11/common/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -4,9 +4,8 @@ endif()
 if ("${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID}" STREQUAL "Clang")
     set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS} -Wno-int-to-void-pointer-cast")
 endif()
-add_library(eglx11common STATIC
+target_sources(kwin PRIVATE
     eglonxbackend.cpp
     kwinxrenderutils.cpp
     logging.cpp
 )
-target_link_libraries(eglx11common kwin)
diff --git a/src/backends/x11/common/eglonxbackend.cpp b/src/backends/x11/common/eglonxbackend.cpp
index 6708282932..e7ff8f4f98 100644
--- a/src/backends/x11/common/eglonxbackend.cpp
+++ b/src/backends/x11/common/eglonxbackend.cpp
@@ -14,12 +14,8 @@
 #include "options.h"
 #include "overlaywindow.h"
 #include "platform.h"
+#include "utils/common.h"
 #include "utils/xcbutils.h"
-// Qt
-#include <QDebug>
-#include <QLoggingCategory>
-
-Q_LOGGING_CATEGORY(KWIN_CORE, "kwin_core", QtWarningMsg)
 
 namespace KWin
 {
diff --git a/src/backends/x11/standalone/CMakeLists.txt b/src/backends/x11/standalone/CMakeLists.txt
index 0c72c319d1..1dbcdbc246 100644
--- a/src/backends/x11/standalone/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/backends/x11/standalone/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -15,9 +15,8 @@ set(X11PLATFORM_SOURCES
     xfixes_cursor_event_filter.cpp
 )
 
-add_library(KWinX11Platform MODULE ${X11PLATFORM_SOURCES})
-set_target_properties(KWinX11Platform PROPERTIES LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin/org.kde.kwin.platforms/")
-target_link_libraries(KWinX11Platform eglx11common kwin KF5::Crash X11::X11)
+add_library(KWinX11Platform OBJECT ${X11PLATFORM_SOURCES})
+target_link_libraries(KWinX11Platform kwin KF5::Crash X11::X11)
 if (QT_MAJOR_VERSION EQUAL "5")
     target_link_libraries(KWinX11Platform Qt::X11Extras)
 endif()
@@ -39,10 +38,3 @@ endif()
 if (HAVE_DL_LIBRARY)
     target_link_libraries(KWinX11Platform ${DL_LIBRARY})
 endif()
-
-install(
-    TARGETS
-        KWinX11Platform
-    DESTINATION
-        ${KDE_INSTALL_PLUGINDIR}/org.kde.kwin.platforms/
-)
diff --git a/src/backends/x11/standalone/eglbackend.h b/src/backends/x11/standalone/eglbackend.h
index abf520180f..966f483bea 100644
--- a/src/backends/x11/standalone/eglbackend.h
+++ b/src/backends/x11/standalone/eglbackend.h
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
-#include "eglonxbackend.h"
+#include "../common/eglonxbackend.h"
 #include "openglsurfacetexture_x11.h"
 #include "outputlayer.h"
 #include "utils/damagejournal.h"
diff --git a/src/backends/x11/standalone/glxbackend.cpp b/src/backends/x11/standalone/glxbackend.cpp
index 156cdf15c0..bd984203e2 100644
--- a/src/backends/x11/standalone/glxbackend.cpp
+++ b/src/backends/x11/standalone/glxbackend.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,9 @@
 #include "sgivideosyncvsyncmonitor.h"
 #include "softwarevsyncmonitor.h"
 #include "x11_platform.h"
+
+#include "../common/kwinxrenderutils.h"
+
 // kwin
 #include "composite.h"
 #include "options.h"
@@ -34,7 +37,6 @@
 #include <kwinglplatform.h>
 #include <kwinglutils.h>
 #include <kwinoffscreenquickview.h>
-#include <kwinxrenderutils.h>
 // Qt
 #include <QDebug>
 #include <QOpenGLContext>
diff --git a/src/backends/x11/standalone/non_composited_outline.cpp b/src/backends/x11/standalone/non_composited_outline.cpp
index c50254c333..149a779ca0 100644
--- a/src/backends/x11/standalone/non_composited_outline.cpp
+++ b/src/backends/x11/standalone/non_composited_outline.cpp
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 // own
 #include "non_composited_outline.h"
 // KWin libs
-#include <kwinxrenderutils.h>
+#include "../common/kwinxrenderutils.h"
 // xcb
 #include <xcb/render.h>
 
diff --git a/src/backends/x11/standalone/x11.json b/src/backends/x11/standalone/x11.json
deleted file mode 100644
index 284e87c500..0000000000
--- a/src/backends/x11/standalone/x11.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,90 +0,0 @@
-{
-    "KPlugin": {
-        "Description": "Platform plugin for standalone x11 in kwin_x11.",
-        "Description[ar]": "ملحقة النظام لأكس ١١ المفرد في kwin_x11.",
-        "Description[az]": "Kwin_x11 -də müstəqil X11 üçün platforma əlavəsi.",
-        "Description[bg]": "Приставка за самостоятелна платформа на x11 в kwin_x11.",
-        "Description[ca@valencia]": "Connector de plataforma per a una X11 autònoma en el kwin_x11.",
-        "Description[ca]": "Connector de plataforma per a una X11 autònoma en el kwin_x11.",
-        "Description[da]": "Platform-plugin til standalone x11 i kwin_x11.",
-        "Description[de]": "Plattform-Modul für ein selbstständiges X11 in kwin_x11.",
-        "Description[el]": "Πρόσθετο πλατφόρμας για αυτόνομο x11 και kwin_x11.",
-        "Description[en_GB]": "Platform plugin for standalone x11 in kwin_x11.",
-        "Description[es]": "Complemento de Platform para X11 autónomo en kwin_x11.",
-        "Description[et]": "Autonoomse x11 platvormi plugin kwin_x11-s",
-        "Description[eu]": "Plataformaren plugina x11 autonomoarentzako, kwin_x11 barruan.",
-        "Description[fi]": "Alustaliitännäinen itsenäiselle x11:lle kwin_x11:ssä.",
-        "Description[fr]": "Module de plate-forme pour x11 autonomes, au sein de kwin_x11",
-        "Description[gl]": "Complemento de plataforma para x11 independente en kwin_x11.",
-        "Description[hu]": "Platformbővítmény önálló x11-hez a kwin_x11-ben.",
-        "Description[ia]": "Plugin de platteforma per singule X11 in kwin_x11.",
-        "Description[id]": "Plugin platform untuk standalone x11 dalam kwin_x11.",
-        "Description[it]": "Estensione di piattaforma per x11 autonomo in kwin_x11.",
-        "Description[ko]": "kwin_x11의 단독 X11 플러그인입니다.",
-        "Description[lt]": "Platformos priedas, skirtas kwin_x11 viduje esančiam, atskiram x11.",
-        "Description[nl]": "Platform plug-in voor alleenstaande x11 in kwin_x11.",
-        "Description[nn]": "Plattformtillegg for frittståande X11 i kwin_x11.",
-        "Description[pl]": "Wtyczka platformy dla wolnostojącego x11 w kwin_x11.",
-        "Description[pt]": "'Plugin' de plataformas para um X11 autónomo no X11 do KWin.",
-        "Description[pt_BR]": "Plugin de plataforma para um x11 independente no kwin_x11.",
-        "Description[ro]": "Extensie de platformă pentru x11 de sine stătător în kwin_x11.",
-        "Description[ru]": "Подключаемый модуль выделенного х11 в kwin_x11.",
-        "Description[sk]": "Platformový plugin pre standalone x11 v kwin_x11.",
-        "Description[sl]": "Okoljski vstavek za samostojni x11 v kwin_x11.",
-        "Description[sr@ijekavian]": "Платформски прикључак за самостални Икс11 у К‑вину.",
-        "Description[sr@ijekavianlatin]": "Platformski priključak za samostalni X11 u KWinu.",
-        "Description[sr@latin]": "Platformski priključak za samostalni X11 u KWinu.",
-        "Description[sr]": "Платформски прикључак за самостални Икс11 у К‑вину.",
-        "Description[sv]": "Plattforminsticksprogram för fristående X11 i kwin_x11",
-        "Description[tr]": "Kwin_x11'de bağımsız x11 için platform eklentisi.",
-        "Description[uk]": "Додаток платформи для окремого x11 у kwin_x11.",
-        "Description[vi]": "Phần cài cắm nền tảng cho x11 độc lập trong kwin_x11.",
-        "Description[x-test]": "xxPlatform plugin for standalone x11 in kwin_x11.xx",
-        "Description[zh_CN]": "kwin_x11 中的独立 x11 的平台插件",
-        "Description[zh_TW]": "在 kwin_x11 中供 standalone 的 x11 使用的平臺外掛程式。",
-        "Id": "KWinX11Platform",
-        "Name": "x11-standalone",
-        "Name[ar]": "اكس ١١ مفرد",
-        "Name[az]": "x11-standalone",
-        "Name[bg]": "x11-standalone",
-        "Name[ca@valencia]": "X11-autònoma",
-        "Name[ca]": "X11-autònoma",
-        "Name[da]": "x11-standalone",
-        "Name[de]": "Selbständiges-x11",
-        "Name[el]": "x11-αυτόνομος",
-        "Name[en_GB]": "x11-standalone",
-        "Name[es]": "x11-autónomo",
-        "Name[et]": "x11-standalone",
-        "Name[eu]": "x11-autonomoa",
-        "Name[fi]": "x11-standalone",
-        "Name[fr]": "x11-standalone",
-        "Name[gl]": "x11-independente",
-        "Name[hu]": "x11-standalone",
-        "Name[ia]": "x11-standalone",
-        "Name[id]": "x11-standalone",
-        "Name[it]": "X11-alone",
-        "Name[ko]": "x11-standalone",
-        "Name[lt]": "x11-atskiras",
-        "Name[nl]": "x11-alleenstaand",
-        "Name[nn]": "X11 frittståande",
-        "Name[pa]": "x11-ਸਟੈਡਅਲੋਨ",
-        "Name[pl]": "x11-wolnostojący",
-        "Name[pt]": "x11-autónomo",
-        "Name[pt_BR]": "x11-standalone",
-        "Name[ro]": "x11-standalone",
-        "Name[ru]": "x11-standalone",
-        "Name[sk]": "x11-standalone",
-        "Name[sl]": "x11-samostojno",
-        "Name[sr@ijekavian]": "Икс11 самостални",
-        "Name[sr@ijekavianlatin]": "X11 samostalni",
-        "Name[sr@latin]": "X11 samostalni",
-        "Name[sr]": "Икс11 самостални",
-        "Name[sv]": "Fristående X11",
-        "Name[tr]": "x11-standalone",
-        "Name[uk]": "x11-окремий",
-        "Name[vi]": "x11-độc-lập",
-        "Name[x-test]": "xxx11-standalonexx",
-        "Name[zh_CN]": "x11-standalone",
-        "Name[zh_TW]": "x11-standalone"
-    }
-}
diff --git a/src/backends/x11/standalone/x11_platform.cpp b/src/backends/x11/standalone/x11_platform.cpp
index 7a994ae244..f07dea3080 100644
--- a/src/backends/x11/standalone/x11_platform.cpp
+++ b/src/backends/x11/standalone/x11_platform.cpp
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
 #include "workspace.h"
 #include "x11_output.h"
 
-#include "kwinxrenderutils.h"
+#include "../common/kwinxrenderutils.h"
 
 #include <KConfigGroup>
 #include <KCrash>
diff --git a/src/backends/x11/standalone/x11_platform.h b/src/backends/x11/standalone/x11_platform.h
index 3b230cad23..230a7a14c1 100644
--- a/src/backends/x11/standalone/x11_platform.h
+++ b/src/backends/x11/standalone/x11_platform.h
@@ -30,8 +30,7 @@ class X11Output;
 class KWIN_EXPORT X11StandalonePlatform : public Platform
 {
     Q_OBJECT
-    Q_INTERFACES(KWin::Platform)
-    Q_PLUGIN_METADATA(IID "org.kde.kwin.Platform" FILE "x11.json")
+
 public:
     X11StandalonePlatform(QObject *parent = nullptr);
     ~X11StandalonePlatform() override;
diff --git a/src/backends/x11/standalone/xinputintegration.cpp b/src/backends/x11/standalone/xinputintegration.cpp
index 89e3e39fa8..99d9f7e838 100644
--- a/src/backends/x11/standalone/xinputintegration.cpp
+++ b/src/backends/x11/standalone/xinputintegration.cpp
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
     SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later
 */
 #include "xinputintegration.h"
-#include "ge_event_mem_mover.h"
 #include "gestures.h"
 #include "keyboard_input.h"
 #include "logging.h"
@@ -17,6 +16,8 @@
 #include "screenedge.h"
 #include "x11cursor.h"
 
+#include "../common/ge_event_mem_mover.h"
+
 #include "input.h"
 #include "modifier_only_shortcuts.h"
 #include "x11eventfilter.h"
diff --git a/src/backends/x11/windowed/CMakeLists.txt b/src/backends/x11/windowed/CMakeLists.txt
index 9cb4f08b25..f6ed131c23 100644
--- a/src/backends/x11/windowed/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/backends/x11/windowed/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-set(X11BACKEND_SOURCES
+target_sources(kwin PRIVATE
     egl_x11_backend.cpp
     logging.cpp
     scene_qpainter_x11_backend.cpp
@@ -6,16 +6,7 @@ set(X11BACKEND_SOURCES
     x11windowed_output.cpp
 )
 
-add_library(KWinWaylandX11Backend MODULE ${X11BACKEND_SOURCES})
-set_target_properties(KWinWaylandX11Backend PROPERTIES LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/bin/org.kde.kwin.waylandbackends/")
-target_link_libraries(KWinWaylandX11Backend eglx11common kwin X11::XCB X11::X11)
+target_link_libraries(kwin X11::XCB X11::X11)
 if (X11_Xi_FOUND)
-    target_link_libraries(KWinWaylandX11Backend X11::Xi)
+    target_link_libraries(kwin X11::Xi)
 endif()
-
-install(
-    TARGETS
-        KWinWaylandX11Backend
-    DESTINATION
-        ${KDE_INSTALL_PLUGINDIR}/org.kde.kwin.waylandbackends/
-)
diff --git a/src/backends/x11/windowed/egl_x11_backend.h b/src/backends/x11/windowed/egl_x11_backend.h
index 5b93eb95fb..aab75cd1b4 100644
--- a/src/backends/x11/windowed/egl_x11_backend.h
+++ b/src/backends/x11/windowed/egl_x11_backend.h
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 */
 #pragma once
 
-#include "eglonxbackend.h"
+#include "../common/eglonxbackend.h"
 #include "kwinglutils.h"
 #include "outputlayer.h"
 
diff --git a/src/backends/x11/windowed/x11windowed_backend.cpp b/src/backends/x11/windowed/x11windowed_backend.cpp
index 5bb3b37bb5..d8206f425f 100644
--- a/src/backends/x11/windowed/x11windowed_backend.cpp
+++ b/src/backends/x11/windowed/x11windowed_backend.cpp
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
     SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later
 */
 #include "x11windowed_backend.h"
+#include "../common/kwinxrenderutils.h"
 
 #include <config-kwin.h>
 
@@ -18,7 +19,6 @@
 #include "wayland_server.h"
 #include "x11windowed_output.h"
 #include <cursor.h>
-#include <kwinxrenderutils.h>
 #include <pointer_input.h>
 // KDE
 #include <KLocalizedString>
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
 #include <xcb/xcb_keysyms.h>
 // X11
 #if HAVE_X11_XINPUT
-#include "ge_event_mem_mover.h"
+#include "../common/ge_event_mem_mover.h"
 #include <X11/extensions/XI2proto.h>
 #include <X11/extensions/XInput2.h>
 #endif
diff --git a/src/backends/x11/windowed/x11windowed_backend.h b/src/backends/x11/windowed/x11windowed_backend.h
index 906666017a..38bc3b0a53 100644
--- a/src/backends/x11/windowed/x11windowed_backend.h
+++ b/src/backends/x11/windowed/x11windowed_backend.h
@@ -83,8 +83,7 @@ private:
 class KWIN_EXPORT X11WindowedBackend : public Platform
 {
     Q_OBJECT
-    Q_INTERFACES(KWin::Platform)
-    Q_PLUGIN_METADATA(IID "org.kde.kwin.Platform" FILE "x11.json")
+
 public:
     X11WindowedBackend(QObject *parent = nullptr);
     ~X11WindowedBackend() override;
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index c26580259c..5582ab871a 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@
 // KDE
 #include <KAboutData>
 #include <KLocalizedString>
-#include <KPluginMetaData>
 // Qt
 #include <QCommandLineParser>
 #include <QLibraryInfo>
@@ -141,8 +140,7 @@ void Application::destroyAtoms()
 
 void Application::destroyPlatform()
 {
-    delete m_platform;
-    m_platform = nullptr;
+    m_platform.reset();
 }
 
 void Application::resetCrashesCount()
@@ -549,16 +547,10 @@ void Application::setProcessStartupEnvironment(const QProcessEnvironment &enviro
     m_processEnvironment = environment;
 }
 
-void Application::initPlatform(const KPluginMetaData &plugin)
+void Application::setPlatform(std::unique_ptr<Platform> &&platform)
 {
     Q_ASSERT(!m_platform);
-    QPluginLoader loader(plugin.fileName());
-    m_platform = qobject_cast<Platform *>(loader.instance());
-    if (m_platform) {
-        m_platform->setParent(this);
-    } else {
-        qCWarning(KWIN_CORE) << "Could not create plugin" << plugin.name() << "error:" << loader.errorString();
-    }
+    m_platform = std::move(platform);
 }
 
 PluginManager *Application::pluginManager() const
diff --git a/src/main.h b/src/main.h
index 80a49a1c0c..70cb3f6449 100644
--- a/src/main.h
+++ b/src/main.h
@@ -222,11 +222,11 @@ public:
     QProcessEnvironment processStartupEnvironment() const;
     void setProcessStartupEnvironment(const QProcessEnvironment &environment);
 
-    void initPlatform(const KPluginMetaData &plugin);
     Platform *platform() const
     {
-        return m_platform;
+        return m_platform.get();
     }
+    void setPlatform(std::unique_ptr<Platform> &&platform);
 
     bool isTerminating() const
     {
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ private:
 #if KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
     bool m_useKActivities = true;
 #endif
-    Platform *m_platform = nullptr;
+    std::unique_ptr<Platform> m_platform;
     bool m_terminating = false;
     qreal m_xwaylandScale = 1;
     QProcessEnvironment m_processEnvironment;
diff --git a/src/main_wayland.cpp b/src/main_wayland.cpp
index 351f6171a7..da9e40260f 100644
--- a/src/main_wayland.cpp
+++ b/src/main_wayland.cpp
@@ -10,6 +10,10 @@
 
 #include <config-kwin.h>
 
+#include "backends/drm/drm_backend.h"
+#include "backends/virtual/virtual_backend.h"
+#include "backends/wayland/wayland_backend.h"
+#include "backends/x11/windowed/x11windowed_backend.h"
 #include "composite.h"
 #include "effects.h"
 #include "inputmethod.h"
@@ -27,7 +31,6 @@
 #include <KCrash>
 #include <KDesktopFile>
 #include <KLocalizedString>
-#include <KPluginMetaData>
 #include <KShell>
 
 // Qt
@@ -272,22 +275,6 @@ void ApplicationWayland::startSession()
     }
 }
 
-static const QString s_waylandPlugin = QStringLiteral("KWinWaylandWaylandBackend");
-static const QString s_x11Plugin = QStringLiteral("KWinWaylandX11Backend");
-static const QString s_drmPlugin = QStringLiteral("KWinWaylandDrmBackend");
-static const QString s_virtualPlugin = QStringLiteral("KWinWaylandVirtualBackend");
-
-static QString automaticBackendSelection()
-{
-    if (qEnvironmentVariableIsSet("WAYLAND_DISPLAY")) {
-        return s_waylandPlugin;
-    }
-    if (qEnvironmentVariableIsSet("DISPLAY")) {
-        return s_x11Plugin;
-    }
-    return s_drmPlugin;
-}
-
 } // namespace
 
 int main(int argc, char *argv[])
@@ -329,20 +316,6 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
     KWin::Application::createAboutData();
 
-    const auto availablePlugins = KPluginMetaData::findPlugins(QStringLiteral("org.kde.kwin.waylandbackends"));
-    auto hasPlugin = [&availablePlugins](const QString &name) {
-        return std::any_of(availablePlugins.begin(), availablePlugins.end(),
-                           [name](const KPluginMetaData &plugin) {
-                               return plugin.pluginId() == name;
-                           });
-    };
-    const bool hasSizeOption = hasPlugin(KWin::s_x11Plugin) || hasPlugin(KWin::s_virtualPlugin);
-    const bool hasOutputCountOption = hasPlugin(KWin::s_x11Plugin);
-    const bool hasX11Option = hasPlugin(KWin::s_x11Plugin);
-    const bool hasVirtualOption = hasPlugin(KWin::s_virtualPlugin);
-    const bool hasWaylandOption = hasPlugin(KWin::s_waylandPlugin);
-    const bool hasDrmOption = hasPlugin(KWin::s_drmPlugin);
-
     QCommandLineOption xwaylandOption(QStringLiteral("xwayland"),
                                       i18n("Start a rootless Xwayland server."));
     QCommandLineOption waylandSocketOption(QStringList{QStringLiteral("s"), QStringLiteral("socket")},
@@ -393,6 +366,8 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     QCommandLineOption replaceOption(QStringLiteral("replace"),
                                      i18n("Exits this instance so it can be restarted by kwin_wayland_wrapper."));
 
+    QCommandLineOption drmOption(QStringLiteral("drm"), i18n("Render through drm node."));
+
     QCommandLineParser parser;
     a.setupCommandLine(&parser);
     parser.addOption(xwaylandOption);
@@ -402,38 +377,20 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     parser.addOption(xwaylandDisplayOption);
     parser.addOption(xwaylandXAuthorityOption);
     parser.addOption(replaceOption);
-
-    if (hasX11Option) {
-        parser.addOption(x11DisplayOption);
-    }
-    if (hasWaylandOption) {
-        parser.addOption(waylandDisplayOption);
-    }
-    if (hasVirtualOption) {
-        parser.addOption(virtualFbOption);
-    }
-    if (hasSizeOption) {
-        parser.addOption(widthOption);
-        parser.addOption(heightOption);
-        parser.addOption(scaleOption);
-    }
-    if (hasOutputCountOption) {
-        parser.addOption(outputCountOption);
-    }
-    QCommandLineOption drmOption(QStringLiteral("drm"), i18n("Render through drm node."));
-    if (hasDrmOption) {
-        parser.addOption(drmOption);
-    }
+    parser.addOption(x11DisplayOption);
+    parser.addOption(waylandDisplayOption);
+    parser.addOption(virtualFbOption);
+    parser.addOption(widthOption);
+    parser.addOption(heightOption);
+    parser.addOption(scaleOption);
+    parser.addOption(outputCountOption);
+    parser.addOption(drmOption);
 
     QCommandLineOption inputMethodOption(QStringLiteral("inputmethod"),
                                          i18n("Input method that KWin starts."),
                                          QStringLiteral("path/to/imserver"));
     parser.addOption(inputMethodOption);
 
-    QCommandLineOption listBackendsOption(QStringLiteral("list-backends"),
-                                          i18n("List all available backends and quit."));
-    parser.addOption(listBackendsOption);
-
 #if KWIN_BUILD_SCREENLOCKER
     QCommandLineOption screenLockerOption(QStringLiteral("lockscreen"),
                                           i18n("Starts the session in locked mode."));
@@ -478,82 +435,70 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         QDBusConnection::sessionBus().call(msg, QDBus::NoBlock);
         return 0;
     }
-    if (parser.isSet(listBackendsOption)) {
-        for (const auto &plugin : availablePlugins) {
-            std::cout << std::setw(40) << std::left << qPrintable(plugin.name()) << qPrintable(plugin.description()) << std::endl;
-        }
-        return 0;
-    }
 
     if (parser.isSet(exitWithSessionOption)) {
         a.setSessionArgument(parser.value(exitWithSessionOption));
     }
 
+    enum class BackendType {
+        Kms,
+        X11,
+        Wayland,
+        Virtual,
+    };
+
+    BackendType backendType;
     QString pluginName;
     QSize initialWindowSize;
     QByteArray deviceIdentifier;
     int outputCount = 1;
     qreal outputScale = 1;
 
-    if (hasDrmOption && parser.isSet(drmOption)) {
-        pluginName = KWin::s_drmPlugin;
-    }
-
-    if (hasSizeOption) {
-        bool ok = false;
-        const int width = parser.value(widthOption).toInt(&ok);
-        if (!ok) {
-            std::cerr << "FATAL ERROR incorrect value for width" << std::endl;
-            return 1;
-        }
-        const int height = parser.value(heightOption).toInt(&ok);
-        if (!ok) {
-            std::cerr << "FATAL ERROR incorrect value for height" << std::endl;
-            return 1;
-        }
-        const qreal scale = parser.value(scaleOption).toDouble(&ok);
-        if (!ok || scale <= 0) {
-            std::cerr << "FATAL ERROR incorrect value for scale" << std::endl;
-            return 1;
-        }
-
-        outputScale = scale;
-        initialWindowSize = QSize(width, height);
-    }
-
-    if (hasOutputCountOption) {
-        bool ok = false;
-        const int count = parser.value(outputCountOption).toInt(&ok);
-        if (ok) {
-            outputCount = qMax(1, count);
-        }
-    }
-
-    if (hasX11Option && parser.isSet(x11DisplayOption)) {
+    // Decide what backend to use.
+    if (parser.isSet(drmOption)) {
+        backendType = BackendType::Kms;
+    } else if (parser.isSet(x11DisplayOption)) {
+        backendType = BackendType::X11;
         deviceIdentifier = parser.value(x11DisplayOption).toUtf8();
-        pluginName = KWin::s_x11Plugin;
-    } else if (hasWaylandOption && parser.isSet(waylandDisplayOption)) {
+    } else if (parser.isSet(waylandDisplayOption)) {
+        backendType = BackendType::Wayland;
         deviceIdentifier = parser.value(waylandDisplayOption).toUtf8();
-        pluginName = KWin::s_waylandPlugin;
+    } else if (parser.isSet(virtualFbOption)) {
+        backendType = BackendType::Virtual;
+    } else {
+        if (qEnvironmentVariableIsSet("WAYLAND_DISPLAY")) {
+            backendType = BackendType::Wayland;
+        } else if (qEnvironmentVariableIsSet("DISPLAY")) {
+            backendType = BackendType::X11;
+        } else {
+            backendType = BackendType::Kms;
+        }
     }
 
-    if (hasVirtualOption && parser.isSet(virtualFbOption)) {
-        pluginName = KWin::s_virtualPlugin;
-    }
-
-    if (pluginName.isEmpty()) {
-        std::cerr << "No backend specified through command line argument, trying auto resolution" << std::endl;
-        pluginName = KWin::automaticBackendSelection();
-    }
-
-    auto pluginIt = std::find_if(availablePlugins.begin(), availablePlugins.end(),
-                                 [&pluginName](const KPluginMetaData &plugin) {
-                                     return plugin.pluginId() == pluginName;
-                                 });
-    if (pluginIt == availablePlugins.end()) {
-        std::cerr << "FATAL ERROR: could not find a backend" << std::endl;
+    bool ok = false;
+    const int width = parser.value(widthOption).toInt(&ok);
+    if (!ok) {
+        std::cerr << "FATAL ERROR incorrect value for width" << std::endl;
         return 1;
     }
+    const int height = parser.value(heightOption).toInt(&ok);
+    if (!ok) {
+        std::cerr << "FATAL ERROR incorrect value for height" << std::endl;
+        return 1;
+    }
+    const qreal scale = parser.value(scaleOption).toDouble(&ok);
+    if (!ok || scale <= 0) {
+        std::cerr << "FATAL ERROR incorrect value for scale" << std::endl;
+        return 1;
+    }
+
+    outputScale = scale;
+    initialWindowSize = QSize(width, height);
+
+    const int count = parser.value(outputCountOption).toInt(&ok);
+    if (ok) {
+        outputCount = qMax(1, count);
+    }
 
     // TODO: create backend without having the server running
     KWin::WaylandServer *server = KWin::WaylandServer::create(&a);
@@ -595,11 +540,21 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         return 1;
     }
 
-    a.initPlatform(*pluginIt);
-    if (!a.platform()) {
-        std::cerr << "FATAL ERROR: could not instantiate a backend" << std::endl;
-        return 1;
+    switch (backendType) {
+    case BackendType::Kms:
+        a.setPlatform(std::make_unique<KWin::DrmBackend>());
+        break;
+    case BackendType::Virtual:
+        a.setPlatform(std::make_unique<KWin::VirtualBackend>());
+        break;
+    case BackendType::X11:
+        a.setPlatform(std::make_unique<KWin::X11WindowedBackend>());
+        break;
+    case BackendType::Wayland:
+        a.setPlatform(std::make_unique<KWin::Wayland::WaylandBackend>());
+        break;
     }
+
     if (!deviceIdentifier.isEmpty()) {
         a.platform()->setDeviceIdentifier(deviceIdentifier);
     }
diff --git a/src/main_x11.cpp b/src/main_x11.cpp
index 02bd33f40a..b734421655 100644
--- a/src/main_x11.cpp
+++ b/src/main_x11.cpp
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 
 #include <config-kwin.h>
 
+#include "backends/x11/standalone/x11_platform.h"
 #include "platform.h"
 #include "sm.h"
 #include "tabletmodemanager.h"
@@ -21,7 +22,6 @@
 #include <KConfigGroup>
 #include <KCrash>
 #include <KLocalizedString>
-#include <KPluginMetaData>
 #include <KSelectionOwner>
 
 #include <QComboBox>
@@ -410,19 +410,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         exit(1);
     }
 
-    // find and load the X11 platform plugin
-    const KPluginMetaData plugin = KPluginMetaData::findPluginById(QStringLiteral("org.kde.kwin.platforms"), QStringLiteral("KWinX11Platform"));
-
-    if (!plugin.isValid()) {
-        std::cerr << "FATAL ERROR: KWin could not find the KWinX11Platform plugin" << std::endl;
-        return 1;
-    }
-    a.initPlatform(plugin);
-    if (!a.platform()) {
-        std::cerr << "FATAL ERROR: could not instantiate the platform plugin" << std::endl;
-        return 1;
-    }
-
+    a.setPlatform(std::make_unique<KWin::X11StandalonePlatform>());
     a.start();
 
     return a.exec();
diff --git a/src/platform.h b/src/platform.h
index 68717b1f8a..727a4e9b4b 100644
--- a/src/platform.h
+++ b/src/platform.h
@@ -439,8 +439,6 @@ private:
     Output *m_primaryOutput = nullptr;
 };
 
-}
-
-Q_DECLARE_INTERFACE(KWin::Platform, "org.kde.kwin.Platform")
+} // namespace KWin
 
 #endif