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Sony Continues Its War on Physical Media With Shock Crunchyroll Decision
Crunchyroll, the Sony-owned anime streaming service, is restricting its online store to paying subscribers, meaning fans will soon need a subscription to buy physical merchandise such as DVDs and Blu-rays. The move follows PlayStation's earlier announcement that it will phase out physical game releases by 2028, adding to a wider pattern of Sony brands scaling back access to physical media and drawing renewed criticism from consumers.
From August 2026, only subscribers on Crunchyroll's Mega ($13.99/month) and Ultimate Fan ($17.99/month) tiers will be able to shop at the Crunchyroll Store, which the company says will offer a "new curated experience" with exclusive merchandise. Ahead of the change, the store is running a Summer Sale with 50% off selected items, and existing customers will keep access to their accounts, order history and order support, though gift cards will stop being accepted from 14 August 2026. Crunchyroll, founded in 2006 and bought by Sony from WarnerMedia in 2020 for nearly $1 billion, has around 15 million subscribers and hosts over 2,000 titles.
In short
- Crunchyroll Store to become subscriber-only from August 2026
- Only Mega and Ultimate Fan tiers can buy physical merch
- Gift cards stop working from 14 August 2026; Summer Sale now on
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Crunchyroll's decision reflects sensible business strategy in a digital-first market. Physical media sales have declined substantially, and streaming services must operate efficiently to sustain content investment. Offering exclusive merchandise access to paying subscribers creates meaningful additional value for premium tiers whilst enabling the company to manage inventory and operational costs more effectively. This model aligns with modern service economics and ensures resources support the subscribers who most sustain the platform.
The case against
This decision exemplifies corporate efforts to eliminate consumer alternatives to subscription dependency and concentrated digital control. Fans should be able to purchase physical merchandise and anime media independently of maintaining an active subscription. The move disadvantages budget-conscious consumers, collectors who value ownership, those with unreliable internet, and contributes to broader subscription fatigue. It reflects an anti-consumer pattern whereby corporations systematically restrict access to ownership-based alternatives, consolidating control rather than serving consumers' genuine preferences for choice and autonomy.
Explained simply
Crunchyroll is a streaming service specialising in anime content that is owned by Sony. Besides offering thousands of titles for streaming, the platform operates an online store where fans can purchase physical merchandise such as DVDs, Blu-rays and collectibles.
Crunchyroll is now restricting its online store to only paying subscribers. This change is part of a larger pattern at Sony, where both Crunchyroll and its sister company PlayStation are scaling back their involvement with physical media—PlayStation has announced it will stop releasing physical video games by 2028.
The moves have sparked debate about the future of consumer choice in entertainment. As major companies shift towards subscription and digital-only models, questions arise about whether fans will have the option to purchase and own physical products, or will be increasingly directed towards subscription-based access.
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