Sony-owned Crunchyroll is restricting its online merchandise store to higher-paying subscribers from August, adding to a string of unpopular decisions that have drawn criticism of Sony in recent weeks, including its earlier announcement that it will stop manufacturing physical PlayStation games from 2028. Crunchyroll says the change is intended to prioritise its most committed fans for limited-edition and convention-exclusive items, but critics argue the store also sells more everyday products, such as manga and comics, that will now be needlessly locked away from lower-tier subscribers.

Under the new system, only members on Crunchyroll's Mega (around $13.99) or Ultimate (around $17.99) subscription tiers will be able to buy from the store, while those on the cheaper Fan tier (around $9.99) will lose access entirely. Ahead of the change, Crunchyroll is offering a 50% discount on selected items to all members for the rest of July. The move has been met with a largely negative reaction from fans and commentators, who see it as further evidence of Sony limiting consumer choice at a time when the company is already facing backlash on other fronts.