https://shop.uhdfriendlydrives.co.uk/
UHD Friendly Drives – Industry Position & Outlook for 2026
Hello everyone,
As we approach the end of the year, we would first like to thank all our customers and members of the MakeMKV community for their continued support and trust. Your feedback, discussions, and engagement are what allow this ecosystem to continue to exist. We would also like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.
This post is shared purely as an industry update and market outlook. It is not intended to claim credit for technical breakthroughs, nor to promote products, but to help forum members understand where the optical drive market now stands, what choices realistically remain, and how to plan going forward.
Before going further, it is important to be absolutely clear on one point:
All credit for LibreDrive, PC UHD Blu-ray playback, and the ecosystem we have today belongs entirely to Mike Chen and the MakeMKV project.
Without Mike’s work, there would be no LibreDrive, no viable UHD ripping path, and no community like this. This is his forum and his software, and it is only proper to recognise that.
UHD Friendly Drives is simply posting this update as a long-standing participant in the ecosystem, with visibility into hardware supply and lifecycle trends.
1. The manufacturing reality
In 2025, the consumer UHD Blu-ray drive market has crossed a critical threshold.
This year alone, the following HLDS (Hitachi-LG Data Storage) models have reached End of Life (EOL):
Hitachi BH-16NS40
Hitachi BH-16NS55
Hitachi BU40N
These are not random SKUs.
They Represent:
The last reliable internal SATA UHD-capable drives
The last truly viable slimline UHD laptop drive (BU40N)
Well-understood firmware families that underpin much of the MakeMKV ecosystem
Crucially:
There are no announced successors
No silent OEM refreshes
No new consumer UHD optical silicon appearing
From our perspective, this is controlled contraction, not normal product lifecycle behaviour.
As of today, HLDS appears to be the only remaining large-scale optical drive manufacturer, and even that output is clearly winding down rather than evolving.
2. Pioneer did not simply shut down, it was sold
When Pioneer exited the optical drive market, an important detail is often overlooked. Pioneer did not just close the division.
Its optical drive business (Pioneer Digital Design and Manufacturing) was sold outright to Shanxi Lightchain Technology Industrial Development Co., Ltd.
3. Why we believe Shanxi Lightchain bought Pioneer’s optical business
From an engineering and industrial standpoint, we do not believe this acquisition was about reviving consumer Blu-ray drives.
The real value Pioneer brought was optical R&D capability, not retail products:
- Multi-wavelength laser decoding (CD / DVD / BD / UHD).
- RF signal extraction at the analog boundary
- Error behaviour modelling on marginal media.
- Servo control algorithms.
- Precision opto-mechatronics.
- Decades of optical-storage failure analysis
- Engineers with deep understanding of optical physics
Highly transferable to industrial, medical, scientific, sensing, and metrology applications
There has been:
- No new Pioneer-branded drive roadmap.
- No re-entry into consumer channels.
- No indication of UHD-capable successors.
4.Direct communication with Shanxi Lightchain
We would also like to clarify something based on direct communication rather than speculation.
UHD Friendly Drives has been in direct contact with Shanxi Lightchain Technology to understand whether there were any plans to restart or continue consumer optical drive manufacturing.
We were clearly advised that:
- There are no plans to manufacture new consumer optical drives.
- The former Pioneer optical business is not being positioned for consumer Blu-ray products.
Their response was that they would only consider a production run if there was a minimum order quantity of approximately 50,000 units.
This is far beyond what is financially realistic or commercially viable for a specialist market such as ours, and therefore not something we could pursue.
We share this information so forum members understand that this avenue has been explored directly, and that the lack of new drives is not due to lack of interest, but to industrial-scale constraints.
5. Why PC UHD playback was abandoned deliberately.
It is important to address a common misconception.
PC UHD Blu-ray playback did not fail because it was technically impossible.
Early PC UHD playback relied on:
- Intel CPUs with SGX.
- Licensed AACS 2.x software stacks
- Host authentication enforced by CPU and OS vendors.
This aligned with:
- Reduced platform liability.
- Streaming-first priorities.
- Removal of ownership-based playback paths.
6. LibreDrive and the MakeMKV ecosystem
What survived and continues to thrive is the MakeMKV ecosystem, entirely due to the work of Mike Chen.
LibreDrive:
- Removed dependence on fragile licensed playback stacks.
- Restored direct, reliable access to optical media.
- Made long-term UHD preservation possible on PC.
LibreDrive, MakeMKV, and the current state of PC UHD playback exist because of Mike’s work, and the community built around it.
7. Streaming didn’t kill discs it starved them
Streaming services require:
- Revocable access.
- No permanent ownership.
- Centralised control.
- Geo-restriction and removal capability.
- Tightened AACS rules.
- Abandoned PC playback support.
- Reduced hardware investment.
- Allowed manufacturing capacity to wither.
8. The vinyl parallel
This situation mirrors vinyl almost exactly.
Vinyl:
- Should have disappeared decades ago.
- Was abandoned by mass manufacturers.
- Survived through specialists and enthusiasts
- Became a preservation format rather than a convenience format.
UHD Blu-ray is now in the same phase:
- Smaller market.
- Highly knowledgeable users.
- Finite hardware.
- Long lifespan through care, expertise, and preservation.
9. What this means going forward
We want to be clear and factual:
- No new generation of consumer UHD Blu-ray drives is coming.
- Existing drives are finite.
- Once HLDS fully exits consumer production, manufacturing will not restart.
- Optical media has entered a preservation era.
This is the same pattern seen with:
- DAT.
- MiniDisc recorders
- Broadcast tape mechanisms
10. Why are we posting this?
UHD Friendly Drives is sharing this information solely to help forum users make informed decisions:
- Understanding hardware availability
- Understanding long-term risks
- Planning preservation strategies realistically
This post is not about claiming credit, nor about promoting any solution over another.
The technical foundation of this ecosystem is MakeMKV, and that credit belongs where it is due.
Final thoughts
UHD Blu-ray is not dead. But consumer optical drive manufacturing effectively is.
What survives now is:
- Knowledge
- Careful hardware stewardship
- File-based preservation
- Communities like MakeMKV
We hope this perspective is helpful, and we welcome informed discussion.
Once again, thank you to Mike Chen for MakeMKV, and thank you to the community for another year of support.
Kind regards,
Asmcom
UHD Friendly Drives Team
Special Notice for US Customers & Import Duty:
Important: New $12 International Collect on Delivery (ICOD) Fee for U.S. Customers
UPS has introduced a new $12 USD ICOD (International Collect on Delivery) Fee for shipments to the United States if duties, taxes, or other government-related charges ("Duties") are not paid prior to delivery.
This fee will be collected directly from the recipient at the time of delivery. This will be an additional fee on top of any import duty that is liable for the US. It is impossible for us to know what import duty is for every state in the US, so please check this out.
How to Avoid Paying the Fee on Delivery
To avoid the $12 ICOD fee, recipients can prepay Duties online before delivery using one of the following methods:
• Apple Pay
• Google Pay
• Credit card (Visa, Mastercard, or Discover)
Prepayment can be made through the UPS Import Payment Processing Application (IPPA).
Ensure Accurate Contact Details Are Provided
To receive the prepayment notification and secure payment link, it's essential that the following recipient details are entered correctly when placing your order:
• Full name
• Email address
• Phone number
Please double-check these details to avoid delays or unexpected charges.
Both recipients and shippers are responsible for providing accurate contact information to ensure a smooth delivery process.
A payment link will also be available through the tracking page on UPS.com, enabling recipients to pay in advance and avoid the ICOD Fee.
**Warranty Policy — this policy supersedes any previous posts**
As you may know, Pioneer has unfortunately ceased global manufacturing and official support for optical drives. **UHD Friendly Drives are no longer able to offer direct manufacturer support or warranty for Pioneer Blu-ray drives.**
That said, our commitment to you remains unchanged. Here’s how we’ll continue to assist:
**12-Month Customer Support**
For any Pioneer Blu-ray optical drives purchased from us, we offer 12 months of customer support, which includes troubleshooting assistance, setup guidance, and technical help for any issues that may arise during this period. We're here for you!
**30-Day Money-Back Guarantee**
If you're not completely satisfied with your Pioneer Blu-ray Writer Drive for any reason, we offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can return the product within 30 days of receipt for a full refund, provided the product is in its original condition, including all packaging and accessories. While Pioneer's direct warranty support is no longer available, we remain confident in the reliability of these drives, which have earned their reputation as top-tier products.
We understand that this change may be disappointing, and we want to emphasise that Pioneer Blu-ray optical drives are incredibly reliable and of the highest quality. We highly recommend them to anyone who has not yet experienced the exceptional performance of these products. They continue to be one of the best choices in the market for those seeking superior optical drive performance.
Thank you for being so understanding and for continuing to trust us. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out. We're here to support you every step of the way!
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out.
Kind regards,
**Asmcom**
UHD Friendly Drives Team.
Note: Special Offer for MakeMKV Forum Members!!! Hitachi BP55 Super Slim External Blu-ray Drive. You must use the weblinks below, or you will not get the offer.
Important
Important Usage Recommendation: To preserve the lifespan of your Blu-ray drive, we do not recommend using it for direct playback of movie discs. Continuous playback can lead to premature laser wear. Our drives are ripping-optimised, not for use as regular movie players.
Instead, use trusted third-party software like MakeMKV to convert your 4K discs into a digital file or ISO container, which is a more reliable and drive-friendly solution for playback on your device. Once ripped, your content can be viewed repeatedly without further stressing the drive.
Let’s be smart about it:
Don’t use your drive for playback. The laser will wear out.
These drives are built for ripping, not repeated movie watching.
Use MakeMKV to create a digital copy. Then play it all you want, guilt-free and drive-friendly.
In short: Use your drive like it’s a tool, not a television.
[/color]BP55EB40WBU40NCC1-00DE - Drive with Carry Case Option. Hitachi BP55 Super Slim External Blu-ray Drive with Hitachi BP60-NB10 firmware BU40N 1-00DE, " 1-00DE Supports: DVDfab, MakeMKV, Xreveal Pro & AnyDVDHD, Drive with Carry Case Option". External Super-Slim USB 2.0 / 3.0 Compatible, Firmware 1-00mk, Reads 4K UHD Discs, Libre-Drive Friendly Drive with Carry Case Option. Costs £129.99 Plus Postage
- [/color]BP55EB40WBU40ND1-00DE - Drive Only Option. Hitachi BP55 Super Slim External Blu-ray Drive with Hitachi BP60-NB10 firmware BU40N 1-00DE, " 1-00DE Supports: DVDfab, MakeMKV, Xreveal Pro & AnyDVDHD, Drive Only Option". External Super-Slim USB 2.0 / 3.0 Compatible, Firmware 1-00mk, Reads 4K UHD Discs, Libre-Drive Friendly Drive Only. Costs £119.99 Plus Postage
[/color]BP55EB40WBU40NCC1-00MK - Drive with Carry Case Option. Hitachi BP55 Super Slim External Blu-ray Drive with Hitachi BP60-NB10 firmware 1-00MK, " 1-00MK Supports: MakeMKV, Xreveal Pro & AnyDVDHD, Drive with Carry Case Option". External Super-Slim USB 2.0 / 3.0 Compatible, Firmware 1-00mk, Reads 4K UHD Discs, Libre-Drive Friendly Drive with Carry Case Option. Costs £129.99 Plus Postage
[/color]BP55EB40WBU40ND1-00MK - Drive Only Option. Hitachi BP55 Super Slim External Blu-ray Drive with Hitachi BP60-NB10 firmware 1-00MK, " 1-00MK Supports: MakeMKV, Xreveal Pro & AnyDVDHD, Drive Only Option". External Super-Slim USB 2.0 / 3.0 Compatible, Firmware 1-00mk, Reads 4K UHD Discs, Libre-Drive Friendly Drive Only. Costs £119.99 Plus Postage
. Thanks Harry