Sony Retires Its Last 4K Blu-ray Player in Japan, PS5 Is All That's Left
Sony has ceased production of its last standalone 4K Blu-ray player in Japan, leaving the PlayStation 5 as the company's primary device for physical 4K media. This move reflects a broader industry trend toward digital distribution and the phasing out of physical disc hardware.
Why it matters
The decline of physical media hardware signals a significant shift in home entertainment consumption and the future of media preservation.
Sony Retires Its Last 4K Blu-ray Player in Japan, PS5 Is All That's Left | TechPowerUp
Sony Retires Its Last 4K Blu-ray Player in Japan, PS5 Is All That's Left
Sony has stopped shipping the UBP-X700/K in Japan, its last standalone 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player in the country. Shipments ended on October 22, and according to Sony retailer Kunkoku , the remaining stock on Sony's Japanese store sold out almost immediately. There's no word on a successor. That leaves the disc-equipped PlayStation 5 as the only Sony product in Japan that can still play 4K Blu-ray movies. The UBP-X700/K only launched on May 17, 2025, as a cut-down version of the 2018 UBP-X700 without streaming apps, and it was last listed at ¥58,300. Sony will keep selling the BDP-S1700/K, though that one only handles regular Blu-ray discs.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in