Pioneer Exits The Optical Disc Market

All Image Credit: Pioneer

Pioneer Corporation has reportedly withdrawn from the Blu-ray optical drive business, effective immediately. The Japanese electronics giant has transferred all shares of its optical drive subsidiary, Pioneer Digital Design and Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (PDDM), to Shanxi Lightchain Technology Industrial Development Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China’s Shanxi Group. This move marks the end of Pioneer’s nearly three-decade legacy in optical drive manufacturing, as the company pivots to focus on its thriving automotive electronics division, particularly its popular car navigation systems.

It’s also reported that sales of Pioneer branded (optical) products are scheduled to close on May 30, with the production of Blu-ray drives and other products already ceased for both commercial and retail products. It is currently unknown how this decision will affect the brand’s Blu-ray player range, but visiting US and UK Pioneer sites results in no availability of any models.

Pioneer was one of the last major Japanese companies to manufacture optical drives after more than 30 years as a leader in CD, DVD, and Blu-ray drive technology.

This is yet another nail in the Blu-ray physical media coffin. At least Magnetar and Reavon continue to fill the ever growing ‘hole’ in the Blu-ray player market. With Blu-rays having a shelf life of up to or greater than 20 years, it looks like they may out last the player manufacturing scene as more and more viewers move to streaming services and Video on Demand (VoD). A format that is significantly inferior to physical media in terms of video and audio quality, due to the restricted bit rates etc.

For those videophiles amongst us there is a digital alternative for enthusiasts seeking top-end A/V playback performance, with the widening availability of Kaleidescape. The only platform offering movies with lossless audio and reference video – at even higher quality than Blu-ray physical media. Its store also offers theatrical releases sooner than Netflix and other subscription video streaming services, supporting significantly higher audio and video bitrates.

For now at least, Blu-ray as a physical format will likely remain viable for videophiles and enthusiasts for many more years, but mainstream support appears to be fading as the convenience of digital distribution takes over.