A plugin works with a remote desktop client that is executing on a client computing device to present a user interface of a communications application that is executing in a cloud computing environment. The plugin enables the remote desktop client to conduct audio and/or video communication with a remote computing device in a peer-to-peer manner rather than via the communications application. The plugin also enables the remote desktop client to determine a hardware-based media processing capability of the client computing device and leverage such capability in conducting the peer-to-peer audio and/or video communication with the remote computing device. Such hardware-based media processing capability may be used, for example, to process media received from the remote computing device, to process media captured from a media source of the client computing device, or as a basis for negotiating a media communication parameter with the remote computing device.