Optiarc is no stranger to the data storage industry. Originally established in 2006 as a joint venture between Sony and NEC, Optiarc combined the technologies and expertise of its parent companies to provide some of the best optical drives in the world. Sony soon took over NEC's share of the company, making it a wholly-owned subsidiary. By 2013 though, Sony would be forced to shut Optiarc's doors. Despite having a 15% market share, increased competition from overseas manufacturers had forced the price of optical drives down to unsustainable levels. Thankfully, Optiarc's story does not end there. In 2017, Vinpower Digital acquired rights to the brand and re-launched it with a new series of DVD writers.