Amidst several Japanese electronics manufacturers like Elecom, Buffalo, and even Sony slowly exiting (parts of) the Blu-ray market, I-O Data and Verbatim Japan have announced that they will be fortifying their partnership to continue supplying Blu-ray drives and discs domestically (as reported by AV Watch). Specific measures include securing the required components and adjusting production systems to ensure a continuous supply, as well as developing new products tailored specifically to meet the needs of Blu-Ray users.
According to the official announcement, the companies recognize the demand for Blu-ray drives and discs, whether they be for backup, storage, or business purposes. I-O Data’s BD Reco, a Windows-compatible external Blu-ray drive which was released on February 4 to accommodate Japan’s widespread culture of recording TV shows and anime, generated a large response. I-O Data and Verbatim Japan will continue to improve this product, along with the rest of their Blu-ray lineup.
While Blu-ray discs aren’t going anywhere (the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X❘S use Blu-ray discs for their physical games, for example), the rise of streaming and cloud storage services has certainly caused the demand for them to decrease in other spheres. Given how many anime fans in Japan use Blu-ray recorders to create their own personal anime libraries, the news that some companies are staying devoted to the format must feel comforting.
