Sony has announced that come February 2025, it will cease production of all its Blu-ray discs, MiniDiscs for recording, MD Data, and MiniDV tape products. This decision symbolizes the gradual bow-out of physical storage media from the market, marking the end of an era.
As the major mastermind behind Blu-ray technology, Sony introduced a game-changer with its single-layer version holding a whopping 25GB, and the double-layer going double or nothing at 50GB. Blu-ray threw down some serious competition against HD DVD in the late 2000s, finally securing its throne as the successor to the DVD format by 2008. However, as DVRs and streaming services started taking over the living room, Blu-ray's spotlight began to dim. Fast forward to the edge of 2024, and South Korean tech giant LG drops a bombshell - they're ceasing production of Blu-ray players, adding yet another layer of decline to this once-revolutionary market.
According to a recent report, the sales of Blu-ray and DVD products in the first half of 2024 dipped by about 22% compared to the same period last year. Sony has announced it doesn't plan to roll out any more of these models in the future. For now, you can still snag Sony’s Blu-ray discs in online stores like Amazon Japan, where a 10-pack of BD-Rs goes for ¥1,270 (around HK$63.5). But once they're gone, they're gone for good – no restocks on the horizon.
