(March 25, 2025) According to a statement provided to the UK news outlet Inside CI, Sony has made the "unavoidable decision" to suspend sales of all home cinema projectors in the UK and EU once current stock is depleted. The move affects every model in the company’s current projection lineup, including Bravia-branded units like the VPL-XW8100 and VPL-XW5000. The full list includes more than a dozen model numbers, many of which have been featured in home theater builds across Europe in recent years.
The reason? Not a shift in product strategy or a slow market—but the result of evolving sanctions related to the catastrophic Russia-Ukraine war. As explained in the company’s statement, "To ensure our compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including recent European export control regulations and trade restrictions, we have made the unavoidable decision to discontinue sales of select projector models in Europe, once the current stock is depleted."
Specifically, the situation stems from the EU’s 16th sanctions package, adopted on February 24, 2025. The package expands restrictions on companies listed in Annex IV of Council Regulation (EU) No. 833/2014, prohibiting the sale, supply, or export of dual-use goods and technology to entities associated with Russia or Belarus. According to Sony, one of its suppliers became newly listed under the regulation, impacting the availability of components used in Sony’s projector supply chain. In response, the company made the decision to halt new shipments to ensure legal compliance.
Sony’s home cinema projectors have long held a dominant position in the European market, particularly in the enthusiast and custom installation spaces. According to reporting by FlatpanelsHD, Sony was the leading projector brand in home cinema across Europe prior to the announcement. Affected models include the VPL-XW8100, VPL-XW6100, VPL-XW5000, and several others across the business-class and residential range.
Sales of Sony projectors will continue in markets unaffected by the sanctions, including North America and parts of Asia. In the meantime, European dealers and consumers are expected to rely on remaining inventory until supply runs dry.
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