End of the Disc Era? Sony Removes Last UHD Blu-ray Player from Sale in Japan

Sony has ceased sales of the UBP-X700/K, its last standalone Ultra HD Blu-ray player in Japan, meaning such discs can now only be watched there on a PS5 with a disc drive.

Sony continues to reduce its lineup of physical media devices: the company has ceased sales of its last standalone Ultra HD Blu-ray player in Japan.

This refers to the UBP-X700/K model, introduced in May 2025. According to the Japanese website Kunkoku, shipments ended on October 22, and the official Sony store confirms that the device is sold out with no new batches expected. The company has not announced a successor.

Previously, Sony discontinued the UBP-X800M2 player, abandoned standalone CD and SACD players, and in February announced the cessation of Blu-ray recorder production. However, regular Blu-ray and DVD players will remain on sale for now.

Currently, the PS5 with a disc drive is the only Sony device in Japan capable of playing Ultra HD Blu-ray movies.

Against this backdrop, reports have emerged about the possible discontinuation of new PlayStation games on disc. The possibility that the PS6 might lack a traditional disc drive is also being discussed. These are currently just speculations, but everything is increasingly moving towards digital distribution.