diff --git a/src/components/pluginManager.js b/src/components/pluginManager.js
index 2126d73b3..9f3d70c06 100644
--- a/src/components/pluginManager.js
+++ b/src/components/pluginManager.js
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
-define(['events'], function (events) {
+define(['events', 'globalize', 'appRouter'], function (events, globalize, appRouter) {
     'use strict';
 
     // TODO: replace with each plugin version
     var cacheParam = new Date().getTime();
 
-    function loadStrings(plugin, globalize) {
+    function loadStrings(plugin) {
         var strings = plugin.getTranslations ? plugin.getTranslations() : [];
         return globalize.loadStrings({
             name: plugin.id || plugin.packageName,
@@ -25,68 +25,86 @@ define(['events'], function (events) {
         this.pluginsList = [];
     }
 
-    PluginManager.prototype.loadPlugin = function (url) {
+    PluginManager.prototype.loadPlugin = function(pluginSpec) {
 
-        console.debug('Loading plugin: ' + url);
         var instance = this;
 
-        return new Promise(function (resolve, reject) {
+        function registerPlugin(plugin) {
+            instance.register(plugin);
 
-            require([url, 'globalize', 'appRouter'], function (pluginFactory, globalize, appRouter) {
-
-                var plugin = new pluginFactory();
-
-                // See if it's already installed
-                var existing = instance.pluginsList.filter(function (p) {
-                    return p.id === plugin.id;
-                })[0];
-
-                if (existing) {
-                    resolve(url);
-                    return;
-                }
-
-                plugin.installUrl = url;
-
-                var urlLower = url.toLowerCase();
-                if (urlLower.indexOf('http:') === -1 && urlLower.indexOf('https:') === -1 && urlLower.indexOf('file:') === -1) {
-                    if (url.indexOf(appRouter.baseUrl()) !== 0) {
-
-                        url = appRouter.baseUrl() + '/' + url;
-                    }
-                }
-
-                var separatorIndex = Math.max(url.lastIndexOf('/'), url.lastIndexOf('\\'));
-                plugin.baseUrl = url.substring(0, separatorIndex);
-
-                var paths = {};
-                paths[plugin.id] = plugin.baseUrl;
-
-                requirejs.config({
-                    waitSeconds: 0,
-                    paths: paths
+            if (plugin.getRoutes) {
+                plugin.getRoutes().forEach(function (route) {
+                    definePluginRoute(instance, route, plugin);
                 });
+            }
 
-                instance.register(plugin);
+            if (plugin.type === 'skin') {
 
-                if (plugin.getRoutes) {
-                    plugin.getRoutes().forEach(function (route) {
-                        definePluginRoute(instance, route, plugin);
+                // translations won't be loaded for skins until needed
+                return Promise.resolve(plugin);
+            } else {
+                return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+                    loadStrings(plugin)
+                        .then(function () {
+                            resolve(plugin);
+                        })
+                        .catch(reject);
+                });
+            }
+        }
+
+        if (typeof pluginSpec === "string") {
+            console.debug('Loading plugin (via deprecated requirejs method): ' + pluginSpec);
+
+            return new Promise(function (resolve, reject) {
+                require([pluginSpec], (pluginFactory) => {
+                    var plugin = new pluginFactory();
+
+                    // See if it's already installed
+                    var existing = instance.pluginsList.filter(function (p) {
+                        return p.id === plugin.id;
+                    })[0];
+
+                    if (existing) {
+                        resolve(pluginSpec);
+                    }
+
+                    plugin.installUrl = pluginSpec;
+
+                    var urlLower = pluginSpec.toLowerCase();
+                    if (urlLower.indexOf('http:') === -1 && urlLower.indexOf('https:') === -1 && urlLower.indexOf('file:') === -1) {
+                        if (pluginSpec.indexOf(appRouter.baseUrl()) !== 0) {
+
+                            pluginSpec = appRouter.baseUrl() + '/' + pluginSpec;
+                        }
+                    }
+
+                    var separatorIndex = Math.max(pluginSpec.lastIndexOf('/'), pluginSpec.lastIndexOf('\\'));
+                    plugin.baseUrl = pluginSpec.substring(0, separatorIndex);
+
+                    var paths = {};
+                    paths[plugin.id] = plugin.baseUrl;
+
+                    requirejs.config({
+                        waitSeconds: 0,
+                        paths: paths
                     });
-                }
 
-                if (plugin.type === 'skin') {
-
-                    // translations won't be loaded for skins until needed
-                    resolve(plugin);
-                } else {
-
-                    loadStrings(plugin, globalize).then(function () {
-                        resolve(plugin);
-                    }, reject);
-                }
+                    registerPlugin(plugin).then(resolve).catch(reject);
+                });
             });
-        });
+        } else if (pluginSpec.then) {
+            return pluginSpec.then(pluginBuilder => {
+                return pluginBuilder();
+            }).then(plugin => {
+                console.debug(`Plugin loaded: ${plugin.id}`);
+                return registerPlugin(plugin);
+            });
+        } else {
+            const err = new Error("Plugins have to be a Promise that resolves to a plugin builder function or a requirejs urls (deprecated)");
+            console.error(err);
+            return Promise.reject(err);
+        }
     };
 
     // In lieu of automatic discovery, plugins will register dynamic objects