Official lifecycle notice · checked 29 August 2026
OpenAI says the Sora 2 video generation models and Videos API are deprecated and will shut down on September 24, 2026.
Sora APIshuts down
Preserve the production record, replace the provider contract and dual-run a locked scene before cutover. This is an operational migration—not a prompt copy-and-paste exercise.
Now
Inventory
Next
Preserve
Pilot
Dual-run
Before
Cut over
Sep 24
Shutdown
Affected scope
Audit the dated model IDs too.
A code search for only sora-2 can miss pinned snapshots and Pro routes. Check infrastructure, environment variables, logs and job records.
Affected
Videos APIAffected
sora-2Affected
sora-2-proAffected
sora-2-2025-10-06Affected
sora-2-2025-12-08Affected
sora-2-pro-2025-10-06Operational checklist
Move the system, not only the prompt.
Marking a box does not verify the work; use the exported checklist as the owner-facing migration record.
Migration control
0%
0 of 9 operational gates marked complete.
Progress stays in this browser view only and is not saved or transmitted.
Replacement routes
Choose the production bottleneck.
These are candidate routes, not declared performance winners. None is a drop-in implementation or guaranteed quality match for Sora.
Migration candidate
Runway
Gen-4.5 API
A documented developer route with text-to-video and image-to-video plus a broader production ecosystem.
- Published unit
- $0.12 / sec
- 5-sec baseline
- $0.60
Model and workflow dependent—test audio separately from Sora's synced-output assumption.
Migration candidate
Kling AI
Kling 3.0 Turbo · 1080p + native audio
A strong pilot route when multi-shot character action or native audio is part of the migration requirement.
- Published unit
- $0.14 / sec
- 5-sec baseline
- $0.70
Native-audio pricing depends on the selected model, resolution, input type and control mode.
Migration candidate
Luma
Ray 3.2 · 720p · 5 seconds
A frame-directed API route for teams that prioritize keyframes, shot iteration, reframing and finishing passes.
- Published unit
- $0.30 / generation
- 5-sec baseline
- $0.30
Plan a separate audio path unless the exact production route explicitly supplies the required audio output.
Provider adapter
Preserve intent as fields.
Keep your application contract stable while each provider adapter translates inputs, job status and outputs.
| Sora concept | Neutral field | Migration test |
|---|---|---|
| model | provider + model version | Reject retired or unapproved model IDs before a job enters the queue. |
| prompt | story action + camera + scene | Compare intent and shot job, not verbatim provider wording. |
| input_reference | typed reference assets | Validate file type, dimensions, ownership and provider-specific limits. |
| size | aspect ratio + delivery resolution | Map 9:16 separately from pixel dimensions and upscale policy. |
| seconds | requested clip duration | Handle fixed-duration or duration-tier pricing without silent rounding. |
| job status | queued / running / failed / complete | Normalize retries, timeouts and provider error details. |
| download | owned output artifact | Copy required output into controlled storage before source URLs expire. |
| synced audio | audio capability + fallback route | Fail closed when a selected replacement does not supply required audio. |
Submitted-output baseline
Do not migrate on price alone.
A lower generation invoice can lose after retries, audio replacement, continuity repair or a resolution mismatch.
Deprecated
$0.50
Legacy Sora 2
720 × 1280 · $0.10/sec
Candidate
$0.60
Runway Gen-4.5
$0.12/sec
Candidate
$0.70
Kling 3.0 Turbo
1080p + native audio · $0.14/sec
Candidate
$0.30
Luma Ray 3.2
720p · fixed 5-sec generation
Illustrative 5-second submitted-output costs from official rates checked 29 August 2026. Configurations differ and this is not a quality comparison.
Model retry-adjusted cost →Cutover rule
The same three shots must survive the new route.
Run the identical two-shot, reaction and moving reveal with the same references and delivery settings.
Count queued failures, rejected attempts, repair time and audio work—not only completed jobs.
Cut both versions into the same sequence before judging continuity and editability.
Keep rollback criteria explicit until the replacement handles real production traffic.
FAQ
Before the cutover
Is the Sora 2 API shutting down?
Yes. OpenAI's current video-generation documentation says the Sora 2 video generation models and Videos API are deprecated and will shut down on September 24, 2026.
Which Sora models are affected?
The official notice lists the Videos API, sora-2, sora-2-pro, sora-2-2025-10-06, sora-2-2025-12-08 and sora-2-pro-2025-10-06. Audit aliases and dated model IDs rather than checking only one model string.
Does this notice mean every OpenAI video product is shutting down?
The cited notice specifically covers the listed Sora 2 video-generation models and Videos API. Do not extend that statement to unrelated OpenAI products without a separate official notice.
What is the best Sora API alternative?
There is no drop-in universal winner. Start with Runway for a documented developer and production route, Kling when native audio or multi-shot character action is the difficult requirement, and Luma when frame-led iteration and finishing controls matter. Validate the same locked scene before choosing.
Can Sora prompts be copied directly to Runway, Kling or Luma?
Preserve the creative intent, but do not expect a string copy to produce equivalent output. Separate the prompt into subject, action, camera, scene, references and delivery settings, then adapt those fields to each provider's input contract.
Should a team wait until September 24 to migrate?
No. A safe migration needs time for asset preservation, adapter work, locked-scene testing, cost measurement, dual-running and rollback planning. Cut over with operational buffer rather than treating the shutdown date as the first migration day.