Crunchyroll has announced that, from August 2026, its online store will only be open to subscribers on its Mega Fan and Ultimate Fan tiers, shutting out non-subscribers and lower-tier Fan members from making purchases. The move has upset many anime fans because the store is not just a place for merchandise, but also a source of manga, books, physical media and limited-edition releases. It matters because critics see it as another sign of Sony and Crunchyroll tightening control over anime retail and potentially making access to physical products more restrictive.

Crunchyroll said the change is meant to create a more exclusive, convention-style shopping experience focused on collectibles, curated drops and limited-release products, and told Polygon it was influenced by community feedback and collector demand. However, fans noted that the company’s messaging highlighted merchandise while largely omitting manga, Blu-rays and DVDs, which has fuelled concern that physical media is being deprioritised in favour of digital access. The relevant subscription tiers cost $13.99 and $17.99 a month, and the policy follows Sony’s acquisition of Right Stuf in 2022 and its later merger into the Crunchyroll Store in 2023. Before the change takes effect, Crunchyroll is running a summer sale from 14 July with selected items discounted by 50%.