Sony discontinues production of select Blu-ray and optical recording discs

Sony has taken the first step in exiting the optical disc business by discontinuing the production of select Blu-ray recording and optical recording discs due to declining demand. The Tagajyo factory in Miyagi, Japan, the last facility capable of producing 128 GB BDXL Blu-ray recordable discs, will see 250 out of 670 employees seeking voluntary early retirement. Production of various Blu-ray discs for consumers has ceased, while business-to-business sales will continue until market conditions change. Sony advises consumers to stock up on spare BDXL Blu-ray recording drives and discs before prices rise and stocks deplete. The company began producing Blu-ray discs in 2003, offering higher storage capacity and longevity compared to CDs and DVDs. Despite Blu-ray discs still being used for movie distribution, the slow recording process has led many to opt for faster storage mediums like flash memory and hard drives. Sony's Tagajyo factory, established in 1954, has been dedicated to optical disc and magnetic tape production, even continuing work on triple-layer media after the 2011 earthquake.