Anime fans who love collecting physical media are facing a new challenge. Crunchyroll, the streaming giant owned by Sony, has announced that its online store will soon require a premium subscription to shop for exclusive merchandise. Starting in August 2026, only subscribers to the Mega ($13.99/month) or Ultimate Fan ($17.99/month) tiers will be able to purchase items from the Crunchyroll Store. This includes DVDs, Blu-rays, and other collectibles from popular series like Demon Slayer, Spy x Family, and Solo Leveling.
The move has sparked outrage among fans, who see it as another step in Sony's apparent war on physical media. Just last year, PlayStation announced plans to phase out physical game releases by 2028, a decision that drew widespread criticism. Now, Crunchyroll's store change is being viewed as a similar tactic—one that could limit access to physical anime content and push fans toward digital-only consumption. As one fan put it on social media, the store is becoming "like a Costco, but worse."
What the Crunchyroll Store Change Means for Fans
Currently, the Crunchyroll Store is open to everyone, regardless of subscription status. But after the August 2026 update, only paying subscribers on the two highest tiers will be able to browse and buy exclusive merchandise. The company says this will create a "new curated experience" for loyal fans, but critics argue it's a way to squeeze more money out of an already dedicated audience. "They're asking us to pay them so we can pay them more," one user tweeted.
For those who can't afford the higher tiers—or any subscription at all—the change is a bitter pill. Many fans are urging others to buy their anime media from alternative retailers before the paywall goes up. Crunchyroll is currently running a Summer Sale with 50% off select items, which could be a last chance for budget-conscious collectors to grab physical copies of shows like Arcane or Frieren: Beyond Journey's End.
Physical Media Under Siege
This isn't just about anime. Sony's broader strategy has raised alarms across the entertainment industry. The PlayStation announcement earlier this year led to a backlash so intense that some game developers, including those working on Wolverine and God of War: Laufey, publicly committed to releasing physical discs. Similarly, Crunchyroll's store change is seen as a test case for how far Sony will go to eliminate physical media. If fans stop buying DVDs and Blu-rays due to the paywall, Sony could later claim that "no one is buying physical anime anymore," just as it did with video games.
Crunchyroll, which Sony acquired from WarnerMedia in 2020 for nearly $1 billion, now boasts 15 million subscribers and over 2,000 titles. But its store change could alienate a significant portion of its audience. The company has confirmed that existing orders and account history will remain accessible, and customer support will still handle past purchases. However, gift cards will no longer be accepted after August 14, 2026.
For now, the Crunchyroll Store remains open to all, but the clock is ticking. Fans who want to add physical anime to their collections should act fast—or risk being locked out. As the debate over physical media heats up, one thing is clear: Sony's war on discs is far from over.
In related news, Hideo Kojima has weighed in on PlayStation's controversial move to end physical games, while Ted Lasso's streaming surge ahead of Season 4 shows how digital platforms continue to dominate. For anime fans, the Crunchyroll store change is a stark reminder that physical media may soon become a luxury.
