Sony Also Taking Pelters for Locking Crunchyroll’s Store Behind a Subscription
Sony continues to face mounting criticism following recent controversial business decisions. After announcing plans to discontinue physical PlayStation game manufacturing by 2028, subsidiary Crunchyroll introduced another change attracting public backlash: restricting access to its online merchandise store exclusively to paying subscribers.
The anime streaming platform previously allowed general consumers to browse and purchase merchandise freely. The new paywall model requires users to maintain an active Crunchyroll subscription to access the shopping experience. The company framed this decision as an effort to “capture the excitement of convention-exclusive merch,” suggesting it aims to create exclusivity and scarcity similar to in-person convention merchandise.
The change has proven unpopular with consumers and industry observers. Coming on the heels of Sony’s physical media discontinuation announcement—which generated significant negative sentiment across gaming communities—the Crunchyroll store restriction is being perceived as part of a broader trend prioritizing subscription services and digital-only access over consumer choice. The timing compounds existing criticism, with observers characterizing Sony as increasingly focused on maximizing recurring revenue at the expense of customer convenience and accessibility.