Updated
Updated · Anime News Network · Jul 14
Crunchyroll Limits Store Access to $13.99 and $17.99 Tiers in August
Updated
Updated · Anime News Network · Jul 14

Crunchyroll Limits Store Access to $13.99 and $17.99 Tiers in August

3 articles · Updated · Anime News Network · Jul 14

Summary

  • August will bring a members-only Crunchyroll Store, with purchases restricted to Mega Fan and Ultimate Fan subscribers while existing orders continue to ship, including later-release items.
  • Refunds and returns are also tightening: only damaged or defective products will qualify, and some items are already marked final sale as Crunchyroll shifts toward curated drops and exclusive merchandise.
  • Gift cards will be accepted only until August 14, while a Summer Sale launched Tuesday ahead of the transition.
  • The move follows February U.S. price increases to $9.99, $13.99 and $17.99 across Crunchyroll's three subscription tiers and comes after March layoffs tied partly to an e-commerce strategy reset.
  • Crunchyroll has been consolidating anime retail since buying Right Stuf in 2022 and migrating that store into Crunchyroll in 2023; the company said in May it had topped 21 million paid subscribers.

Insights

Will Crunchyroll's exclusive store model boost profits or alienate the wider anime fan community?
Is gating merchandise behind a paywall the future of fandom, or a risky business gamble?