Crunchyroll Shuts Down Storefront for Non-Subscribers, Discontinues Many Physical Items

It’s been a rocky road for Crunchyroll, the anime streaming powerhouse under Sony’s umbrella, especially regarding its store. After restricting access to only Mega and Ultimate Fan tier subscribers back in July, it appears that the platform has now significantly scaled back its offerings of physical media, much to the dismay of fans who have taken to social media to express their frustration.

As of August 19, the Crunchyroll Store no longer features manga, light novels, manhwa, or danmei for purchase. The remaining selection includes just 387 items in the “Home Entertainment” section, a sharp decline from what was previously available. The store has shifted its focus to merchandise and exclusive drops, aligning with the statement released during the July changes: “The new store captures the excitement of convention-exclusive merchandise: collectibles, curated drops, and limited-release products inspired by the anime series you love.”

Fans are not pleased with these policy changes, drawing parallels to Sony’s controversial move to halt the production of physical video game copies. Crunchyroll was acquired by Sony in 2021 and subsequently merged with Funimation, which Sony had purchased in 2017. In 2022, Crunchyroll expanded its reach by acquiring the anime e-commerce retailer Right Stuf, which was integrated into the Crunchyroll Store in 2023.

Despite the surge in digital services, physical media remains vital to the anime community. Comic books, including manga and manhwa, continue to hold significant appeal. Digital manga is scattered across various publisher-owned platforms, such as Shueisha’s Manga Plus and Kodansha’s K-Manga, which often require subscriptions or in-app purchases for full access. Many fans still argue that physical copies are the best way to enjoy and collect their favorite series.

Some frustrated fans feel that Crunchyroll has been systematically dismantling Right Stuf’s business model over the past three years, making it increasingly difficult to buy physical products, seemingly to nudge customers toward digital media and streaming. The Crunchyroll Store still offers exclusive Home Entertainment releases, like The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Blu-ray SteelBook edition. However, there has been no official word from the company regarding the latest changes to its store. It’s possible that these adjustments are temporary, and that manga, manhwa, light novels, and danmei may return in the future.