DISCONTINUED: OpenAI announced on March 24, 2026 that Sora would be shut down. The Sora app was discontinued on April 26, 2026, and the API (Videos API,
sora-2,sora-2-pro) on September 24, 2026. There is no direct successor.
This page is a reference for a discontinued model. innFactory AI Consulting from Rosenheim, Germany advises enterprises across the DACH region on video AI alternatives following the discontinuation of OpenAI Sora. As of October 2026.
Discontinuation of Sora
On March 24, 2026, OpenAI announced the discontinuation of Sora; the OpenAI deprecations page lists the Videos API as well as sora-2, sora-2-pro and the snapshots sora-2-2025-10-06, sora-2-2025-12-08 and sora-2-pro-2025-10-06 with a shutdown on September 24, 2026 and no recommended replacement.
Shutdown Timeline
| Phase | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Sora Mobile App | April 26, 2026 | App shut down |
| Sora API | September 24, 2026 | Shut down (Videos API, sora-2, sora-2-pro and snapshots) |
| Azure AI Foundry | October 15, 2026 | Retirement of model version 2025-12-08 per Microsoft’s retirement schedule, no replacement |
Recommended Alternatives
For enterprises that still need video AI capabilities, these models come into consideration:
- Google Veo via Google Cloud with EU hosting
- ByteDance Seedance as another video generation model (check data protection and availability first)
- Lightricks LTX as an open video-audio model for self-hosting
Sora 2 – Technical Details
In September 2025, OpenAI released Sora 2 and Sora 2 Pro. The following technical documentation serves as reference:
Story Extensions and Narrative Content
With Story Extensions, existing videos can be extended by describing what should happen next. Sora maintains characters, environments, and visual style - ideal for episodic content and longer narratives. Videos can be developed iteratively without losing previous versions.
Image-to-Video with Real People
Sora 2 enables animation of images featuring real people for the first time, such as for marketing campaigns or internal communications. OpenAI has implemented strict safety measures: recognizable faces are automatically stylized, all videos receive visible watermarks, and usage is subject to strict consent guidelines.
Up to 25 Seconds with Synchronized Audio
Maximum video length has been increased to 25 seconds. Sora 2 generates:
- Synchronized speech with accurate lip movements
- Ambient sounds and background music
- Sound effects matching the scene
- Multi-speaker dialogues for realistic conversations
Professional Output Quality
Sora 2 delivers 1080p Full HD as standard - suitable for broadcast and professional applications. Physics simulation has been improved, making object interactions more realistic. Various visual styles (Anime, Cinematic, Retro, etc.) and on-screen text rendering expand creative possibilities.
EU Availability and Compliance
Sora was available in the European Union from early 2025, but with limitations:
- Web Version: was available for ChatGPT Plus and Pro subscribers in EU, UK, Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland
- Sora 2 App: was never released for EU regions
- GDPR Compliance: OpenAI had confirmed GDPR compliance for the released version
- Cloud Providers: Per Microsoft’s documentation, Sora 2 was additionally available via Azure AI Foundry (Global Standard deployment in the EU region Sweden Central, as well as East US 2, USA). Because this is a Global Standard model with no Data Zone EU or Regional variant, Microsoft states that processing may also occur outside the EU – there is no guaranteed EU data residency. Sora was never available via AWS Bedrock or Google Vertex AI. For the Azure model version 2025-12-08, Microsoft’s retirement schedule lists October 15, 2026 as the retirement date, with no replacement – roughly three weeks after OpenAI’s own API shutdown on September 24, 2026.
For enterprises in the DACH region, this means: Sora is no longer available, either through the OpenAI API or through Azure AI Foundry. When choosing an alternative, data residency and exact processing locations should be reviewed contractually.
API and Pricing Model
The Sora 2 API was billed on a pay-per-second model (until the shutdown on September 24, 2026; last valid prices):
- Standard 720p: $0.10 per second
- Pro 720p: $0.30 per second
- Pro 1080p: $0.50 per second
A 10-second 1080p video thus costs $5.00. The API operates asynchronously and delivers videos without watermarks - suitable for commercial use and white-label applications. Maximum video lengths are 4-12 seconds via the standard API, up to 20-25 seconds for Pro subscribers.
Strict content policies apply to generation, particularly regarding realistic depictions of people, celebrities, and protected brands.
Enterprise Use Cases
Typical video AI applications in the DACH region that Sora covered and that can be implemented with the alternatives above:
- Concept Visualization and rapid prototyping for campaigns
- Social Media Content with short, attention-grabbing videos
- Marketing Videos for product launches and explainer content
- Storyboards for pre-visualization of productions
- Internal Communications with animated content
For production workflows, enterprises should carefully evaluate availability, latency, and costs.
Our Recommendation
Sora was shut down on April 26, 2026 (app) and September 24, 2026 (API). Existing workflows should move to Google Veo, ByteDance Seedance or the self-hostable Lightricks LTX; the processing region needs to be clarified in advance for EU data residency. innFactory AI Consulting supports you in migrating to GDPR-compliant video AI solutions.