Crunchyroll locks shop behind subscription tiers, angering anime fans
Crunchyroll, one of the world’s biggest anime streaming platforms, has just announced big changes coming to its retail branch, the Crunchyroll Store. Starting this August, the Crunchyroll Store will be available exclusively to subscribers to the Mega and Ultimate Fan tiers, meaning non-subscribing Guests and users on the Fan tier won’t be able to make purchases in the store.
According to Crunchyroll’s official statement, “The new store captures the excitement of convention-exclusive merchandise: collectibles, curated drops, and limited-release products inspired by the anime series you love.” In response to a request for comments by Polygon, Crunchyroll further explained that the decision was inspired by community feedback and by observing what gets collectors and anime fans most excited.
Many fans, however, are not sharing that enthusiasm about the changes. The Crunchyroll Store doesn’t just sell merch and collectibles; it’s also a repository of manga, books, and a variety of home entertainment products. It’s an important resource for anyone who still wants to own physical media, and it also carries many exclusive limited edition sets. Not being able to buy these without a Mega or Ultimate Fan subscription (priced at $13.99 and $17.99, respectively) is perceived by many as another step in the Sony-Crunchyroll monopolization of the anime market.
In 2022, Sony acquired video publisher and distributor Right Stuf, Inc., merging it into the Crunchyroll brand, which Sony had also acquired one year before. In 2023, Right Stuf was merged into the Crunchyroll Store. In the wake of Sony’s recent, controversial announcement that physical discs for PlayStation games will be discontinued, some anime fans are worried that the Crunchyroll Store policy change could also be a move in the same direction, pushing customers to rely on digital media and streaming.
In fact, the official statements from the company emphasize collectibles, merchandise, curated drops, and capturing the “convention shopping experience,” while leaving out traditional physical media like manga and anime Blu-rays or DVDs. Regardless of Crunchyroll’s intentions, locking the right to buy merchandise behind a subscription tier is a controversial move that won’t help the company overcome the bad reputation that it has garnered among a portion of the fandom.
The changes to the Crunchyroll Store will become effective in August 2026. A Summer Sale offer will be in place beginning on July 14, with 50% off selected items.
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