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Sony is reportedly winding down its high-end Blu-ray player business, with the Japanese blog Kunkoku indicating the company is discontinuing its last remaining UHD Blu-ray player in Japan, the UBP-X700/K. While Sony has not issued an official press release, the device is listed as out of stock and will not be restocked on the company's Japanese online store.
The UBP-X700/K, released in May 2025, follows the earlier discontinuation of the UBP-X800M2. With this shift, the PlayStation 5 remains the only 4K Blu-ray player offered by Sony in Japan, though the console lacks support for Dolby Vision. Sony intends to maintain sales of one standard Blu-ray player and one DVD model.
Although the discontinuation is currently specific to Japan, industry observers suggest this move will likely extend worldwide. This development aligns with Sony's broader strategy to move away from physical media, including a previously announced plan to cease physical disc production for PlayStation consoles starting in 2028.
These transitions have sparked significant controversy regarding digital media ownership. Critics note that digital purchases often represent licenses rather than ownership, a point highlighted by Sony's ongoing legal efforts to clarify that players do not own their digital games. Recent actions, such as removing hundreds of films from user accounts following expired licensing deals, have further fueled concerns among collectors.
