Katarzyna Petru
Sony Japan has officially announced that it will cease the sale of all current Blu-ray recorder models worldwide, and there are no successors planned. This decision aligns with the company's earlier actions as, back in July 2024, Sony reduced 40 percent of its workforce in the optical media department, and in January 2025 confirmed the cessation of production of writable Blu-ray MiniDiscs and tapes. In this context, the withdrawal from the Blu-ray recorder market is not surprising but rather another step towards a complete departure from physical media.
Changes concern only Blu-ray recorders
The decision by Sony concerns only Blu-ray recorders with recording function, and the company does not plan to discontinue the production of standard Blu-ray and UHD Blu-ray players intended solely for playing films. Along with the official announcement, models BDZ ZW1900 from 2024 and BDZ FBT4200 BDZ FBT2200 and BDZ FBW2200 from 2023 have been withdrawn from sale. Other Blu-ray recorders are to be gradually phased out after February 2026, marking the definitive end of this category of devices in Sony's offering.
As noted by FlatpanelsHD, major players such as Oppo, Samsung, and LG have already completely exited the Blu-ray player market. Today, these devices are offered mainly by Sony, Panasonic, and a handful of specialized premium brands. However, questions are increasingly being raised about the future of the Japanese manufacturer in this segment. A key factor may be Sony’s partnership with TCL, announced for next year, which could influence the company’s long-term strategy regarding physical media.
Source: sony.jp, FlatpanelsHD.com
