Sony may be preparing to leave the standalone 4K Blu-ray player market after its final remaining model in Japan, the UBP-X700K, was marked unavailable on October 22. According to a Forbes report, local retailers were reportedly told not to expect additional stock, raising concerns about the future of Sony’s dedicated disc hardware.
The company has not announced a worldwide withdrawal. Sony’s U.S. website still lists the UBP-X700K, and Best Buy was offering it for $329.99 at the time of reporting. Amazon, however, no longer sells the player directly as a new product. Sony’s UK operation declined to comment on the reports, saying the information had not been publicly announced and that it preferred not to discuss speculation.
Sony has already reduced its involvement in other physical-media products. It stopped producing blank recordable Blu-ray discs in January 2025 and later said it would end production in Japan. In July 2026, the company also announced plans to stop producing physical PlayStation game discs from 2028, although it remains unclear whether the next PlayStation console will include a disc drive. The PS5 Pro launched without an integrated drive, with an optional unit available separately.
If Sony leaves the player market, Panasonic remains a major alternative. Its UB154 was listed at $289.99, while the UB820 was priced at $649.99 and the higher-end UB9000 at $1,299.99. Disc-equipped consoles such as the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X can also play 4K Blu-ray films, although neither supports Dolby Vision for disc playback.
Sony would join several other manufacturers that have exited Blu-ray hardware. Oppo stopped producing players in 2018, Samsung ended plans for new U.S. Blu-ray players the following year, LG left the business in 2024, and Reavon halted production in 2025.
The broader physical-disc market has declined, but 4K Blu-ray has performed differently. Digital Entertainment Group figures cited in the report show that total U.S. disc sales fell by about 9% in 2025, while spending on 4K discs increased 12%. That spending rose another 18% in the second quarter of 2026.
Existing Sony players should continue to play discs already in their owners’ collections. There is currently no evidence that Sony plans to issue an update that would prevent its existing hardware from reading movies.
Sources: Tom's Hardware.