Crunchyroll Limits Official Store to Its Most Expensive Subscription Tiers

===Crunchyroll Locks Premium Store Behind Expensive Subscriptions, Sparking Fan Outrage===

Anime streaming giant Crunchyroll is facing a firestorm of criticism after announcing that its online store will now be exclusively accessible to subscribers of its Mega and Ultimate fan tiers. This move effectively locks out casual viewers from purchasing exclusive merchandise, collectibles, and figurines unless they’re willing to shell out at least $13.99 per month.

Crunchyroll Store Access Limited to Premium Subscribers

Previously a free-for-all for anyone with an internet connection, the Crunchyroll online store is now becoming a gated community. The news, delivered via an official blog post on July 14th, revealed that only subscribers of the Mega Fan and Ultimate Fan tiers will be able to browse and purchase items from the store moving forward.

At the time of writing, no specific date has been announced for when this change will take effect. The platform simply stated that the “exact date will be announced in the future.” Currently, Crunchyroll offers three subscription tiers: the Fan Plan ($9.99/month), the Mega Fan Plan ($13.99/month), and the Ultimate Fan Plan ($17.99/month). While a free, ad-supported viewing option existed, it was notably discontinued in December 2025.

The platform’s blog post touts the new, exclusive store as offering “curated drops and Crunchyroll‑exclusive merch you won’t find anywhere else.” However, this announcement has been met with considerable backlash from fans, evident in the comments section of their related tweet. Many are drawing parallels between this decision and Sony’s recent move to stop the production of physical game discs starting January 2028.

This perceived trend towards restrictive practices under the Sony umbrella has ignited a wave of frustration among anime fans. Furthermore, agencies from at least two countries have initiated anti-consumer lawsuits against Sony. Both the Dutch consumer organization Stichting Massaschade & Consument and Mexican lawmakers are taking legal action against the company concerning pricing on the PlayStation Store and the potential for a “relative monopolistic practice” resulting from halting physical disc production.

[[MEDIA_0: Crunchyroll’s exclusive merchandise is now only available to premium subscribers.]]

Unsplash.com: Elena Mozhvilo / Crunchyroll

Virginia (she/her) is IGN’s News Editor. With ten years of experience reporting on games and entertainment, she’s got a storied background in the fighting game community, influencer news, and viral online trends. Find her on Twitter at @TheeMissGlaze“>@TheeMissGlaze.

Source: IGN Gaming