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Following a recent platform update, the Crunchyroll Store has removed all listings for physical manga and light novels. Print editions of Korean manhwa and Chinese danmei publications have also been taken down from the catalog. When contacted for further details, Crunchyroll declined to issue a statement.
Back in July, Crunchyroll announced plans to restrict store access exclusively to Mega and Ultimate Fan subscribers starting in August. The revamped storefront focuses on curated merchandise drops, platform-exclusive items, select collectibles, Blu-ray Discs, and apparel.
Leading up to the transition, specific merchandise was marked as “final sale,” with returns and refunds limited strictly to damaged or defective products rather than applying globally to all store inventory. Pending orders, including upcoming releases scheduled after the shift, continue to be processed and fulfilled normally. The acceptance of store gift cards was temporarily paused until August 14, which coincided with the expiration of the older membership discount perks for Mega and Ultimate Fan subscribers.
To expand its e-commerce operations, Crunchyroll previously acquired Right Stuf in August 2022. By October 2023, Right Stuf had completely migrated its catalog over to the Crunchyroll platform, allowing customers to continue purchasing those legacy items until the recent overhaul.
Earlier in February, Crunchyroll raised its U.S. subscription rates across all tiers. The monthly Fan plan moved from US$7.99 to US$9.99, the Mega Fan plan increased from US$11.99 to US$13.99, and the Ultimate Fan tier went from US$15.99 to US$17.99.
The standard Fan Tier offers ad-free streaming and immediate access to new simulcast episodes upon premiere. The Mega Fan Tier includes those same benefits while adding offline viewing capabilities, four simultaneous streams, a 10% discount on qualifying store items, and free shipping for purchases exceeding US$50. The Ultimate Fan Tier expands on this with six simultaneous streams, offline viewing, a 15% store discount, free shipping on all orders, an annual swag bag, and access to exclusive merchandise.
In digital publishing, the standalone Crunchyroll Manga app debuted for web browsers, iOS, and Android in the U.S. and Canada in October 2025, operating separately from the core video streaming platform. This marks a return to the digital comic space for the company, which originally introduced its first manga reader back in October 2013.
In organizational changes, Crunchyroll reduced its workforce in March following structural adjustments and geographic role redistributions, attributing the shift to a change in e-commerce strategy rather than financial cost-cutting.
Additionally, the platform discontinued its free, ad-supported streaming tier at the end of last December.
Crunchyroll functions as an independently managed joint venture between Sony Pictures Entertainment and Aniplex of Japan. Both entities—alongside Sony Music Entertainment (Japan)—operate as subsidiaries under the Tokyo-based parent organization, Sony Group.
Sony‘s Funimation Global Group officially finalized its purchase of Crunchyroll from AT&T on August 9, 2021, following an initial agreement in December 2020 valued at $1.175 billion in cash. Legacy Funimation home video releases have since been integrated under the Crunchyroll brand.
Source: Crunchyroll Store via MangaAlerts