Blu-ray, one of the most important formats for video storage in recent decades, is approaching its demise.
Sony’s recent decision to end the production of recorders, added to the previous withdrawal of other brands such as Regzaconfirms a change in cycle that already seemed inevitable.
This announcement has generated uncertainty among users, especially among those who still maintain large physical collections.
As explained by specialized stores, The last models available will be sold while supplies last and will not be spare parts.
This movement does not only affect the devices, but also to the Blu-ray discs themselveswhich have stopped being manufactured in some cases, causing advance purchases by regular users.
Some collectors admit to owning hundreds of records and several players to ensure they are not left without access to their contents.
However, the problem lies not so much in the durability of the format as in its future. According to experts, a Blu-ray disc can last between 30 and 50 years if maintained correctly. The real risk is the disappearance of devices capable of reproducing them.
It is increasingly difficult to find readers, even for computers, where optical drives are no longer common. Added to this is that manufacturers of external readers have also announced the interruption of their production.
The main cause of its decline is the expansion of streaming platformswhich have completely transformed the consumption of audiovisual content. Watching movies or series on demand has reduced the need to store content in physical format.
There is another key factor that explains its decline: the habit of recording television programs, very popular in Japan. According to experts, this country concentrated 90% of the world’s demand for Blu-ray recorders, driven by a culture of collection and archiving.
In the rest of the world, where television reruns and digital access have been more common, the same need never developed.
Although technical support will remain available for some time, the future of Blu-ray is clearly defined. More than a sudden disappearance, it is the closing of a stage in the evolution of audiovisual consumption.