Twenty years after its public debut at CES 2006, Blu-ray optical disc still lives oneven as most consumers move to streaming video and digital storage. Although its role has changed significantly since the days when it was introduced as the successor to DVD with higher capacity and image quality, Blu-ray still has its place in the world of physical media, especially among enthusiasts and collectors.
When the format was first introduced, Blu-ray represented a major technological leap over DVD thanks to blue-violet laser which enabled higher data density on a standard 12-cm disc, first with 25 GB on single-layer discsand later with 50 GB on dual-layer variants. This enabled 1080p videos, and later support for 4K UHD Blu-ray with advanced codecs and HDR displayit says TechSpot.
The format initially had to fight for dominance over rival HD DVD, in the so-called “format installment”. Toshiba admitted defeat and gave up in 2008making Blu-ray the standard for high-definition optical media. Since then, the technology and scope of use have evolved, and physical media has remained a mandatory part of the sale of movies, series and video games, even as digital platforms have become dominant.
However, in the last decade, the market for physical media has become smaller and smaller. Major manufacturers, including Sony – one of the key creators of the Blu-ray format – have ceased production in 2025 „recordable“ Blu-ray diskovamarking the end of an era when consumers could record their own content to these media. Also, the end of support and the withdrawal of players like LG from the Blu-ray player segment signal that physical media is no longer an industry priority.
Despite this, Blu-ray still finds its place in specific niches. 4K UHD releases and collectible packs continue to come out and hold the attention of demanding enthusiasts the best picture and sound quality which physical media is still able to provide, often surpassing the quality that can be obtained through compressed streaming services. There are those who still passionately purchase Blu-ray releases for their durability, collectible value, and authentic movie-watching experience, especially when certain shows or movies are not available on streaming platforms.
In practice, most modern PCs and consoles no longer come with built-in Blu-ray players, and demand for them has dropped dramatically outside of some markets such as Japan, where optical drives have seen an unexpected surge in demand as users switch from Windows 10 to the Windows 11 operating system.
Blu-ray can be considered format that survived its golden erabut which still survives as a specialized and valuable platform for those who do not want to give up physical media. As digital distribution continues to expand and technology trends move towards the cloud and streaming services, the presence of Blu-ray in 2026 remains a reminder of how physical media has shaped home entertainment in recent decades.