Physical media takes another blow as Sony's final UHD Blu-ray player goes out of stock globallywhy

Credit: Sydney Louw Butler / How-To Geek Published Nov 3, 2026, 11:14 AM EST Ingrid Cruz is an expert in shopping, deals, home appliances, Apple, and pasta. She's written for sites such as Mashable, CNET, Los Angeles Times, Business Insider, and Latina Media Co. She enjoys covering news, solutions to common problems, pop culture, and tech reviews. When not working, Cruz enjoys a nice cup of coffee,spending time with her cats, and perfecting her recipes. Sign in to your How-To Geek account Sony has officially discontinued its last UHD Blu-ray player, the UBP-X700/K. Considering that Sony has announced it'll stop selling physical copies of its games as of 2028, it's no surprise that the company is quietly ridding itself of devices capable of playing analog media. As of now, the UBP-X700K is labeled as out-of-stock in stores around the world. This includes the U.S., parts of the European Union, and more. Whether Sony's loyal customers are ready for this digital-only change is debatable. For now, avid gamers can use their console to play their Blu-ray disc collection at home. Non-gamers might also have to look for Blu-ray players from brands that continue to have them reliably in stock. Sony has been stepping away from Blu-ray for a while now The company stopped producing recordable Blu-ray discs last year Credit: Panasonic In 2025, Sony announced that it'll stop producing recordable Blu-ray discs. The company's decision to stop producing a Blu-ray player for all kinds of media (film, TV shows, etc.) is consistent with their past business decisions and shows just how much the company is doubling down on digital and subscription-based services instead. According to Forbes UK reporter John Archer, when Sony was pressed for comment, the company declined to confirm whether they will cease production on their last remaining Blu-ray disc player. Instead, Sony told the press: "This information has not been publicly announced by Sony. We are aware of the recent media reports, but prefer to refrain from commenting on speculation.” Starting in 2028, gamers can buy digital codes in-store Though there are other brands that sell Blu-ray discs, Sony's withdrawal from this market is a major blow to fans of analog media. Sony's plans in 2028 give us hints about how they might treat other media going forward. Once physical copies of games stop becoming available, gamers will be able to purchase digital codes online or in-person. Redditors have already expressed their disappointment with Sony's decision to stop selling the UBP-X700K. 4K Blu-ray discs are known for their image quality even on larger screens. Not being able to have access to Blu-ray players means customers have to rely on streaming services or cable for entertainment. One Redditor commented on how much media isn't available on streaming services due to licensing issues.For now, it looks like your best bet is to take the best possible care of your Sony UBP-X700/K Blu-ray disc player if you have one, or to rely on a Blu-ray-friendly gaming console while you can.