Crunchyroll has made a pretty major change to its online store: physical manga and light novels are no longer part of the Crunchyroll Store lineup, according to Anime News Network.
The shift follows Crunchyroll’s July announcement that the store would be updated in August and limited to its Mega Fan and Ultimate Fan subscription tiers. The refreshed store is now positioned around curated drops, Crunchyroll-exclusive merchandise, selected collectibles, Blu-ray Discs, and apparel.
In other words, this is not just a small catalogue cleanup. Crunchyroll’s store is being pushed further into premium-fan territory, with access tied to higher subscription plans rather than operating like a broad anime goods shop.
What changed with the store?
Before the update, some items on Crunchyroll Store were marked as “final sale.” For those products, returns or refunds were only accepted if the item arrived damaged or defective. That rule applied specifically to final sale items, not every product on the store.
Crunchyroll also said open orders would still be processed and shipped, including items releasing after the store transition. The company temporarily stopped accepting Crunchyroll Store gift cards until August 14, and existing Mega Fan and Ultimate Fan store discount benefits ended on the same date.
The bigger headline for manga collectors is the removal of physical manga and light novels. That matters because Crunchyroll’s store had inherited a lot of its physical catalogue history from Right Stuf, the long-running anime and manga retailer Crunchyroll acquired in August 2022.
Right Stuf’s own storefront was phased out in October 2023, with products moved into Crunchyroll Store. Until this latest update, customers could still find items that previously lived under the Right Stuf catalogue.
Subscription tiers are now more central
Crunchyroll raised U.S. subscription prices earlier this year. The Fan tier went from US$7.99 to US$9.99 per month. Mega Fan rose from US$11.99 to US$13.99, while Ultimate Fan increased from US$15.99 to US$17.99.
The basic Fan tier includes ad-free viewing and access to new simulcast episodes as they premiere. Mega Fan adds offline viewing, four simultaneous streams, a 10% discount on selected store products, and free shipping on Crunchyroll Store orders over US$50. Ultimate Fan includes offline viewing, six simultaneous streams, a 15% discount on selected products, free shipping, an annual swag bag, and access to exclusive member-only merch.
Crunchyroll also halted free ad-supported streaming last December, another sign that its ecosystem is moving away from broad free access and deeper into paid membership.
Why this matters for Malaysia and SEA readers
Analysis: For Malaysia and Southeast Asia anime fans, the key takeaway is not a confirmed local store change, pricing change, or launch update. The source does not state any Malaysia-specific availability or regional store details.
What this does show is how one of the biggest anime companies is reshaping its business. Crunchyroll is putting more weight on subscriptions, exclusive merchandise, premium drops, and controlled fan perks. For collectors, especially those who follow overseas anime retail trends, the removal of physical manga and light novels is a signal that Crunchyroll Store may no longer be trying to replace the older Right Stuf-style shopping experience.
It also puts Crunchyroll’s manga strategy in a different light. The company launched a separate ad-free Crunchyroll Manga app for browser, iOS, and Android in the United States and Canada in October 2025. Crunchyroll previously had a manga service back in 2013, so this is not its first attempt at digital manga.
Crunchyroll remains an independently operated joint venture between Sony Pictures Entertainment and Aniplex. Sony’s Funimation Global Group completed its US$1.175 billion acquisition of Crunchyroll from AT&T in August 2021, and Funimation home video releases are now listed under Crunchyroll.
So yeah, this is bigger than “some books disappeared from a shop.” Crunchyroll is continuing to tighten its ecosystem around paid access, digital services, and exclusive fan goods. For anime fans watching where the industry is heading, that is the part worth paying attention to.