OpenAI Sora Opens Access Temporarily in Select Countries
OpenAI Temporarily Removes Barriers to Sora Access
In a significant expansion of its latest AI offering, OpenAI announced today that its Sora application will temporarily waive invitation code requirements for users in four key markets. The policy change affects users in the United States, Canada, Japan, and South Korea, marking Sora's most substantial accessibility update since its September 2025 launch.
From Closed Beta to Wider Testing
The Sora platform, powered by OpenAI's advanced Sora2 model, generates high-quality short videos from text or image inputs with synchronized audio. Initially launched as an iOS-exclusive with strict invitation requirements, the service gradually expanded to web access in mid-October while maintaining code-based restrictions.
Under the new temporary policy:
- Users can access Sora via iOS app or sora.com
- No invitation codes required for OpenAI account holders
- First-time inclusion of Asian markets (Japan and South Korea)
- North American access remains unchanged
Strategic Expansion Goals
An OpenAI spokesperson explained this represents a "time-limited opportunity" designed to:
- Test server capacity under increased load
- Gather broader user feedback
- Accelerate market adoption curves
- Evaluate Asian market potential
The company cautioned that restrictions may be reinstated pending system performance evaluations.
Industry analysts interpret this move as signaling:
- Confidence in Sora's technical stability
- Aggressive commercialization timelines
- Strategic focus on creative professional markets
- Preparation for eventual global rollout
Key Points:
- Temporary access: No codes required through unspecified end date
- Geographic expansion: First official availability in Asia beyond initial North American launch
- Platform flexibility: Continued support for both mobile and web interfaces
- Commercial signals: Indicates progressing monetization strategy for generative video tools