Crunchyroll locks shop behind subscription tiers, angering anime fans

Starting this August, the Crunchyroll Store will become exclusive to Mega and Ultimate Fan subscribers, barring Guests and Fan-tier members from making purchases. The move, aimed at creating a "convention shopping experience" with collectibles and limited drops, has sparked backlash among anime fans who rely on the store for manga, Blu-rays, and home entertainment. Critics see it as part of Sony-Crunchyroll's monopolization of the anime market, especially following Sony's controversial plan to discontinue physical PlayStation discs. Crunchyroll defends the change as driven by community feedback, but many fans fear it pushes them toward digital-only media.