Sony will discontinue manufacturing optical disc drives for personal computers in November amid fierce competition that has forced prices lower. Operations at Sony Optiarc Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary for the optical disc business based in Atsugi, Kanagawa Prefecture, will be halted at the end of March and the unit will eventually be liquidated.

As part of its plan to pare its global workforce by 10,000 by the end of March, Sony will offer early retirement to 400 of the unit’s employees in Japan and abroad, while other workers will be transferred to different positions in the group.