According to reports from outlets including HiddenWires and AV César, Sony has begun informing partners that it will discontinue its line of home cinema projectors across European markets once its stock is depleted. The move is understood to be in response to tightening European export control regulations and upcoming environmental restrictions.

In a statement published by these sources, Sony is quoted as saying:

To ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including recent European export control regulations and trade restrictions, we have made the inevitable decision to discontinue sales of Sony projectors in Europe once the current stock is depleted. We remain committed to compliance with applicable laws and regulations and responsible business practices and are working closely with our business partners to ensure a smooth transition.

While Sony has not specified which regulations are driving the decision, speculation points to the European Union’s upcoming Regulation (EU) 2023/2049, which comes into effect on January 1, 2026. This legislation will ban manufacturing and importing mercury-containing products—including Ultra-High-Performance (UHP) projector lamps—as part of broader environmental and health protection efforts.

The regulation is expected to significantly impact manufacturers who have not yet transitioned to mercury-free projection technologies. Although many of Sony’s more recent projectors are laser-based, the regulatory landscape appears to be influencing its business strategy at a broader level.

Further reporting by AV César suggests that geopolitical factors may also be playing a role. The site notes that recent EU sanctions against Russia—and potentially connected restrictions involving Chinese-based suppliers—could be impacting Sony’s supply chain, given that Sony's projector manufacturing is understood to take place in China. While no official link has been confirmed, the continued availability of these products outside Europe lends weight to this theory. Industry sources reportedly ruled out attempts to reroute products via non-EU countries, who cited prohibitive penalties under European trade law.

The affected models reportedly include Sony’s flagship 4K home cinema projectors, such as the VPL-XW8100, VPL-XW6100, and VPL-XW5000 series, as well as several installation projectors, including the VPL-FHZ85, FHZ80, PHZ61, and PHZ51. Sony has indicated that it will continue to supply these products in markets outside Europe “unless the situation changes, including further legal prohibition or restrictions.”

StereoNET has been unable to locate an official press release or public announcement from Sony via its usual global media or press channels at the time of publishing. We will continue to follow this story and update our coverage as more information becomes available.

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