diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -574,7 +574,6 @@
 
 install(TARGETS kwin_wayland         ${INSTALL_TARGETS_DEFAULT_ARGS} )
 
-add_subdirectory(backends)
 add_subdirectory(plugins)
 
 ########### install files ###############
diff --git a/autotests/wayland/CMakeLists.txt b/autotests/wayland/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/autotests/wayland/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/autotests/wayland/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-add_definitions(-DKWINBACKENDPATH="${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/backends/virtual/KWinWaylandVirtualBackend.so")
+add_definitions(-DKWINBACKENDPATH="${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/plugins/platforms/virtual/KWinWaylandVirtualBackend.so")
 add_definitions(-DKWINQPAPATH="${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/plugins/qpa/")
 ########################################################
 # Test Start
diff --git a/plugins/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/plugins/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 add_subdirectory(kglobalaccel)
 add_subdirectory(qpa)
 add_subdirectory(idletime)
+add_subdirectory(platforms)
diff --git a/backends/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/platforms/CMakeLists.txt
rename from backends/CMakeLists.txt
rename to plugins/platforms/CMakeLists.txt
diff --git a/backends/drm/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/platforms/drm/CMakeLists.txt
rename from backends/drm/CMakeLists.txt
rename to plugins/platforms/drm/CMakeLists.txt
diff --git a/backends/drm/drm.json b/plugins/platforms/drm/drm.json
rename from backends/drm/drm.json
rename to plugins/platforms/drm/drm.json
diff --git a/backends/drm/drm_backend.h b/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_backend.h
rename from backends/drm/drm_backend.h
rename to plugins/platforms/drm/drm_backend.h
diff --git a/backends/drm/drm_backend.cpp b/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_backend.cpp
rename from backends/drm/drm_backend.cpp
rename to plugins/platforms/drm/drm_backend.cpp
diff --git a/backends/drm/drm_buffer.h b/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_buffer.h
rename from backends/drm/drm_buffer.h
rename to plugins/platforms/drm/drm_buffer.h
diff --git a/backends/drm/drm_buffer.cpp b/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_buffer.cpp
rename from backends/drm/drm_buffer.cpp
rename to plugins/platforms/drm/drm_buffer.cpp
diff --git a/backends/drm/drm_inputeventfilter.h b/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_inputeventfilter.h
rename from backends/drm/drm_inputeventfilter.h
rename to plugins/platforms/drm/drm_inputeventfilter.h
diff --git a/backends/drm/drm_inputeventfilter.cpp b/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_inputeventfilter.cpp
rename from backends/drm/drm_inputeventfilter.cpp
rename to plugins/platforms/drm/drm_inputeventfilter.cpp
diff --git a/backends/drm/drm_output.h b/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_output.h
rename from backends/drm/drm_output.h
rename to plugins/platforms/drm/drm_output.h
diff --git a/backends/drm/drm_output.cpp b/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_output.cpp
rename from backends/drm/drm_output.cpp
rename to plugins/platforms/drm/drm_output.cpp
diff --git a/backends/drm/drm_pointer.h b/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_pointer.h
rename from backends/drm/drm_pointer.h
rename to plugins/platforms/drm/drm_pointer.h
diff --git a/backends/drm/egl_gbm_backend.h b/plugins/platforms/drm/egl_gbm_backend.h
rename from backends/drm/egl_gbm_backend.h
rename to plugins/platforms/drm/egl_gbm_backend.h
diff --git a/backends/drm/egl_gbm_backend.cpp b/plugins/platforms/drm/egl_gbm_backend.cpp
rename from backends/drm/egl_gbm_backend.cpp
rename to plugins/platforms/drm/egl_gbm_backend.cpp
diff --git a/backends/drm/logging.h b/plugins/platforms/drm/logging.h
rename from backends/drm/logging.h
rename to plugins/platforms/drm/logging.h
diff --git a/backends/drm/logging.cpp b/plugins/platforms/drm/logging.cpp
rename from backends/drm/logging.cpp
rename to plugins/platforms/drm/logging.cpp
diff --git a/backends/drm/scene_qpainter_drm_backend.h b/plugins/platforms/drm/scene_qpainter_drm_backend.h
rename from backends/drm/scene_qpainter_drm_backend.h
rename to plugins/platforms/drm/scene_qpainter_drm_backend.h
diff --git a/backends/drm/scene_qpainter_drm_backend.cpp b/plugins/platforms/drm/scene_qpainter_drm_backend.cpp
rename from backends/drm/scene_qpainter_drm_backend.cpp
rename to plugins/platforms/drm/scene_qpainter_drm_backend.cpp
diff --git a/backends/drm/screens_drm.h b/plugins/platforms/drm/screens_drm.h
rename from backends/drm/screens_drm.h
rename to plugins/platforms/drm/screens_drm.h
diff --git a/backends/drm/screens_drm.cpp b/plugins/platforms/drm/screens_drm.cpp
rename from backends/drm/screens_drm.cpp
rename to plugins/platforms/drm/screens_drm.cpp
diff --git a/backends/fbdev/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/platforms/fbdev/CMakeLists.txt
rename from backends/fbdev/CMakeLists.txt
rename to plugins/platforms/fbdev/CMakeLists.txt
diff --git a/backends/fbdev/fb_backend.h b/plugins/platforms/fbdev/fb_backend.h
rename from backends/fbdev/fb_backend.h
rename to plugins/platforms/fbdev/fb_backend.h
diff --git a/backends/fbdev/fb_backend.cpp b/plugins/platforms/fbdev/fb_backend.cpp
rename from backends/fbdev/fb_backend.cpp
rename to plugins/platforms/fbdev/fb_backend.cpp
diff --git a/backends/fbdev/fbdev.json b/plugins/platforms/fbdev/fbdev.json
rename from backends/fbdev/fbdev.json
rename to plugins/platforms/fbdev/fbdev.json
diff --git a/backends/fbdev/logging.h b/plugins/platforms/fbdev/logging.h
rename from backends/fbdev/logging.h
rename to plugins/platforms/fbdev/logging.h
diff --git a/backends/fbdev/logging.cpp b/plugins/platforms/fbdev/logging.cpp
rename from backends/fbdev/logging.cpp
rename to plugins/platforms/fbdev/logging.cpp
diff --git a/backends/fbdev/scene_qpainter_fb_backend.h b/plugins/platforms/fbdev/scene_qpainter_fb_backend.h
rename from backends/fbdev/scene_qpainter_fb_backend.h
rename to plugins/platforms/fbdev/scene_qpainter_fb_backend.h
diff --git a/backends/fbdev/scene_qpainter_fb_backend.cpp b/plugins/platforms/fbdev/scene_qpainter_fb_backend.cpp
rename from backends/fbdev/scene_qpainter_fb_backend.cpp
rename to plugins/platforms/fbdev/scene_qpainter_fb_backend.cpp
diff --git a/backends/hwcomposer/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/platforms/hwcomposer/CMakeLists.txt
rename from backends/hwcomposer/CMakeLists.txt
rename to plugins/platforms/hwcomposer/CMakeLists.txt
diff --git a/backends/hwcomposer/egl_hwcomposer_backend.h b/plugins/platforms/hwcomposer/egl_hwcomposer_backend.h
rename from backends/hwcomposer/egl_hwcomposer_backend.h
rename to plugins/platforms/hwcomposer/egl_hwcomposer_backend.h
diff --git a/backends/hwcomposer/egl_hwcomposer_backend.cpp b/plugins/platforms/hwcomposer/egl_hwcomposer_backend.cpp
rename from backends/hwcomposer/egl_hwcomposer_backend.cpp
rename to plugins/platforms/hwcomposer/egl_hwcomposer_backend.cpp
diff --git a/backends/hwcomposer/hwcomposer.json b/plugins/platforms/hwcomposer/hwcomposer.json
rename from backends/hwcomposer/hwcomposer.json
rename to plugins/platforms/hwcomposer/hwcomposer.json
diff --git a/backends/hwcomposer/hwcomposer_backend.h b/plugins/platforms/hwcomposer/hwcomposer_backend.h
rename from backends/hwcomposer/hwcomposer_backend.h
rename to plugins/platforms/hwcomposer/hwcomposer_backend.h
diff --git a/backends/hwcomposer/hwcomposer_backend.cpp b/plugins/platforms/hwcomposer/hwcomposer_backend.cpp
rename from backends/hwcomposer/hwcomposer_backend.cpp
rename to plugins/platforms/hwcomposer/hwcomposer_backend.cpp
diff --git a/backends/hwcomposer/logging.h b/plugins/platforms/hwcomposer/logging.h
rename from backends/hwcomposer/logging.h
rename to plugins/platforms/hwcomposer/logging.h
diff --git a/backends/hwcomposer/logging.cpp b/plugins/platforms/hwcomposer/logging.cpp
rename from backends/hwcomposer/logging.cpp
rename to plugins/platforms/hwcomposer/logging.cpp
diff --git a/backends/hwcomposer/screens_hwcomposer.h b/plugins/platforms/hwcomposer/screens_hwcomposer.h
rename from backends/hwcomposer/screens_hwcomposer.h
rename to plugins/platforms/hwcomposer/screens_hwcomposer.h
diff --git a/backends/hwcomposer/screens_hwcomposer.cpp b/plugins/platforms/hwcomposer/screens_hwcomposer.cpp
rename from backends/hwcomposer/screens_hwcomposer.cpp
rename to plugins/platforms/hwcomposer/screens_hwcomposer.cpp
diff --git a/backends/virtual/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/platforms/virtual/CMakeLists.txt
rename from backends/virtual/CMakeLists.txt
rename to plugins/platforms/virtual/CMakeLists.txt
diff --git a/backends/virtual/egl_gbm_backend.h b/plugins/platforms/virtual/egl_gbm_backend.h
rename from backends/virtual/egl_gbm_backend.h
rename to plugins/platforms/virtual/egl_gbm_backend.h
diff --git a/backends/virtual/egl_gbm_backend.cpp b/plugins/platforms/virtual/egl_gbm_backend.cpp
rename from backends/virtual/egl_gbm_backend.cpp
rename to plugins/platforms/virtual/egl_gbm_backend.cpp
diff --git a/backends/virtual/scene_qpainter_virtual_backend.h b/plugins/platforms/virtual/scene_qpainter_virtual_backend.h
rename from backends/virtual/scene_qpainter_virtual_backend.h
rename to plugins/platforms/virtual/scene_qpainter_virtual_backend.h
diff --git a/backends/virtual/scene_qpainter_virtual_backend.cpp b/plugins/platforms/virtual/scene_qpainter_virtual_backend.cpp
rename from backends/virtual/scene_qpainter_virtual_backend.cpp
rename to plugins/platforms/virtual/scene_qpainter_virtual_backend.cpp
diff --git a/backends/virtual/screens_virtual.h b/plugins/platforms/virtual/screens_virtual.h
rename from backends/virtual/screens_virtual.h
rename to plugins/platforms/virtual/screens_virtual.h
diff --git a/backends/virtual/screens_virtual.cpp b/plugins/platforms/virtual/screens_virtual.cpp
rename from backends/virtual/screens_virtual.cpp
rename to plugins/platforms/virtual/screens_virtual.cpp
diff --git a/backends/virtual/virtual.json b/plugins/platforms/virtual/virtual.json
rename from backends/virtual/virtual.json
rename to plugins/platforms/virtual/virtual.json
diff --git a/backends/virtual/virtual_backend.h b/plugins/platforms/virtual/virtual_backend.h
rename from backends/virtual/virtual_backend.h
rename to plugins/platforms/virtual/virtual_backend.h
diff --git a/backends/virtual/virtual_backend.cpp b/plugins/platforms/virtual/virtual_backend.cpp
rename from backends/virtual/virtual_backend.cpp
rename to plugins/platforms/virtual/virtual_backend.cpp
diff --git a/backends/wayland/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/platforms/wayland/CMakeLists.txt
rename from backends/wayland/CMakeLists.txt
rename to plugins/platforms/wayland/CMakeLists.txt
diff --git a/backends/wayland/egl_wayland_backend.h b/plugins/platforms/wayland/egl_wayland_backend.h
rename from backends/wayland/egl_wayland_backend.h
rename to plugins/platforms/wayland/egl_wayland_backend.h
diff --git a/backends/wayland/egl_wayland_backend.cpp b/plugins/platforms/wayland/egl_wayland_backend.cpp
rename from backends/wayland/egl_wayland_backend.cpp
rename to plugins/platforms/wayland/egl_wayland_backend.cpp
diff --git a/backends/wayland/logging.h b/plugins/platforms/wayland/logging.h
rename from backends/wayland/logging.h
rename to plugins/platforms/wayland/logging.h
diff --git a/backends/wayland/logging.cpp b/plugins/platforms/wayland/logging.cpp
rename from backends/wayland/logging.cpp
rename to plugins/platforms/wayland/logging.cpp
diff --git a/backends/wayland/scene_qpainter_wayland_backend.h b/plugins/platforms/wayland/scene_qpainter_wayland_backend.h
rename from backends/wayland/scene_qpainter_wayland_backend.h
rename to plugins/platforms/wayland/scene_qpainter_wayland_backend.h
diff --git a/backends/wayland/scene_qpainter_wayland_backend.cpp b/plugins/platforms/wayland/scene_qpainter_wayland_backend.cpp
rename from backends/wayland/scene_qpainter_wayland_backend.cpp
rename to plugins/platforms/wayland/scene_qpainter_wayland_backend.cpp
diff --git a/backends/wayland/wayland.json b/plugins/platforms/wayland/wayland.json
rename from backends/wayland/wayland.json
rename to plugins/platforms/wayland/wayland.json
diff --git a/backends/wayland/wayland_backend.h b/plugins/platforms/wayland/wayland_backend.h
rename from backends/wayland/wayland_backend.h
rename to plugins/platforms/wayland/wayland_backend.h
diff --git a/backends/wayland/wayland_backend.cpp b/plugins/platforms/wayland/wayland_backend.cpp
rename from backends/wayland/wayland_backend.cpp
rename to plugins/platforms/wayland/wayland_backend.cpp
diff --git a/backends/x11/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/platforms/x11/CMakeLists.txt
rename from backends/x11/CMakeLists.txt
rename to plugins/platforms/x11/CMakeLists.txt
diff --git a/backends/x11/egl_x11_backend.h b/plugins/platforms/x11/egl_x11_backend.h
rename from backends/x11/egl_x11_backend.h
rename to plugins/platforms/x11/egl_x11_backend.h
diff --git a/backends/x11/egl_x11_backend.cpp b/plugins/platforms/x11/egl_x11_backend.cpp
rename from backends/x11/egl_x11_backend.cpp
rename to plugins/platforms/x11/egl_x11_backend.cpp
diff --git a/backends/x11/logging.h b/plugins/platforms/x11/logging.h
rename from backends/x11/logging.h
rename to plugins/platforms/x11/logging.h
diff --git a/backends/x11/logging.cpp b/plugins/platforms/x11/logging.cpp
rename from backends/x11/logging.cpp
rename to plugins/platforms/x11/logging.cpp
diff --git a/backends/x11/scene_qpainter_x11_backend.h b/plugins/platforms/x11/scene_qpainter_x11_backend.h
rename from backends/x11/scene_qpainter_x11_backend.h
rename to plugins/platforms/x11/scene_qpainter_x11_backend.h
diff --git a/backends/x11/scene_qpainter_x11_backend.cpp b/plugins/platforms/x11/scene_qpainter_x11_backend.cpp
rename from backends/x11/scene_qpainter_x11_backend.cpp
rename to plugins/platforms/x11/scene_qpainter_x11_backend.cpp
diff --git a/backends/x11/x11.json b/plugins/platforms/x11/x11.json
rename from backends/x11/x11.json
rename to plugins/platforms/x11/x11.json
diff --git a/backends/x11/x11windowed_backend.h b/plugins/platforms/x11/x11windowed_backend.h
rename from backends/x11/x11windowed_backend.h
rename to plugins/platforms/x11/x11windowed_backend.h
diff --git a/backends/x11/x11windowed_backend.cpp b/plugins/platforms/x11/x11windowed_backend.cpp
rename from backends/x11/x11windowed_backend.cpp
rename to plugins/platforms/x11/x11windowed_backend.cpp