The end of an era: Sony is ending nearly 20 years of producing Blu-ray discs and other optical media, marking a major turning point in the physical storage industry.
Sony officially announced on January 23, 2025, the permanent cessation of production of all its optical media, including Blu-ray discs, MiniDiscs and MiniDV cassettes, as of February 2025. This historic decision comes after the company has already ceased consumer production of these media in mid-2024, retaining only the production lines intended for professional customers.
The Japanese company, which was one of the main architects of Blu-ray technology, clarified that no successor format was planned. This decision is mainly due to the rise of streaming services and cloud storage, which have gradually eroded demand for physical media.
To go further
Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Max: which streaming platform to choose in 2025?
A limited but symbolic impact
It is important to note that this judgment only concerns recordable discs and does not directly affect the production of pre-recorded Blu-rays containing films and series. Consumers will therefore be able to continue to purchase films on Blu-ray, although the supply may gradually be reduced.
This announcement is part of a broader context of decline in physical media. Indeed, LG Electronics had already stopped manufacturing Blu-ray players in December 2024, following the example of Samsung and Oppo who had withdrawn from the market a few years earlier. Only Panasonic and Sony currently continue to offer UHD players, although without having renewed their ranges for several years.
-What alternatives to physical storage?
Faced with this evolution, different storage solutions are available to users. Cloud storage has the advantage of accessibility, but involves monthly costs and security issues. External hard drives are an alternative, but their “limited” lifespan requires regular transfers to preserve data.
To go further
Free cloud storage: what are the best services in 2023?
Pioneer, a competitor to Sony, has developed a niche in long-term storage with Blu-ray discs designed to last a hundred years. Researchers are also working on glass storage solutions with an estimated lifespan of 5,000 years.
The Legacy of Blu-ray
Launched in 2000 in prototype form, Blu-ray prevailed over Toshiba’s HD-DVD in 2006, notably thanks to Sony’s partnerships with film studios and the integration of this technology into the PlayStation 3. This victory in the format wars allowed Blu-ray to rule the high-definition optical storage market for almost two decades.
The gradual disappearance of Blu-ray raises questions about the long-term preservation of digital content. Unlike streaming services where content can disappear without notice, physical media offered a form of sustainability and control over one’s multimedia library.
Related News :