The world of projection is in shock: Sony is suspending sales of its home theater projectors in Europe. This unexpected decision, officially announced on March 18, 2025, leaves professionals and home theater enthusiasts alike in a state of uncertainty. What are the reasons for this sudden halt? And what are the consequences?
Mise à jour : deux mois après avoir annoncé son retrait du marché Européen, Sony peut de nouveau commercialiser ses projecteurs !
Voir notre article : Les vidéoprojecteurs Sony de retour sur le marché européen.
An official decision due to regulatory constraints
Sony has confirmed that it will no longer be selling its home theater and installation projectors on the European market. Once stocks are depleted, these products will no longer be available. The company cites the need to comply with new European regulations: “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.” states the brand’s official press release.
International sanctions in the background
While Sony cites legal constraints, several industry observers point to more specific causes. Indeed, the recent series of sanctions imposed by the European Union, notably against Russia and certain Chinese suppliers, could indirectly affect the production chain of Sony’s projectors. The latter are manufactured in China, in a factory potentially affected by these trade restrictions. However, the penalties laid down by the EU for circumventing these rules via third countries are considered a deterrent by European distributors.
A measure that only concerns Europe
This withdrawal applies to the European market only. Sony projectors continue to be distributed in the United States and Asia, which appears to rule out the hypothesis of a widespread technical or logistical problem. This reinforces the idea that regulatory considerations, specific to the European territory, are at the root of this decision.
A significant impact on the sector
The discontinuation of Sony projectors is a shock for the European home theater market. Several iconic models will disappear, notably the VPL-XW5000, VPL-XW6100, VPL-XW8100 for 4K home theater, as well as the VPL-FHZ85, VPL-FHZ80, VPL-PHZ61 and VPL-PHZ51 for professional installations. The Son-Vidéo.com site should still have a few dozen units, notably from the XW ranges, to keep fans of the brand happy until the summer. After that, it’s anyone’s guess whether it will be possible to find an alternative supply solution…
Many professionals in the sector – distributors, installers and specialist retailers – are likely to see their business impacted. However, after-sales service should be assured for a few years, with Sony sources assuring us that a supply of spare parts has been secured for the maintenance of devices already installed and those to be sold while stocks last.
A leading brand leaves the market
The decision by Sony, one of the segment’s historic leaders, creates a void in the high-end projector market. Until now, its products have regularly been among the most highly recommended, such as the Bravia Projector 8 model, hailed in 2025 for its performance. Its withdrawal could benefit the competition, which should seize this opportunity to strengthen its presence in Europe. These include JVC and Epson, long-standing competitors in the high-end projector market. But there are also challengers such as the BenQ W5800 and the Optoma UHZ68LV, which take on the Sony VPL-XW5000 head-on. And let’s not forget Chinese manufacturers such as Hisense, Formovie, Valerion and Xgimi, who have become key players in the market for ultra-short-throw projectors and compact models.
Summary
Sony is halting sales of its projectors in Europe, citing new European export control regulations. This decision, which only concerns the European market, is said to be linked to sanctions indirectly affecting its production lines located in China. It affects the brand’s entire home theater and professional installation range, and raises many questions about the future of after-sales service. Sony’s failure to offer an alternative could spell trouble for professionals in the sector, while competitors could take advantage of this absence. It remains to be seen whether this withdrawal will be temporary… or definitive.
