Crunchyroll has announced that it will discontinue its digital manga distribution service.
According to Anime News Network, Crunchyroll’s digital manga app, which works alongside its premium anime subscription service, will no longer be available after December 11. The popular anime streaming company announced that it brings made this decision as part of its “commitment to providing fans with the best experiences surrounding their favorite series.” Although Crunchyroll previously warned subscribers via email that it would stop offering digital comics on November 7, the app’s sizable collection of comics will remain available to users until December 11. Crunchyroll’s Store will also continue to sell physical manga volumes.
Crunchyroll’s Digital Manga app launched in 2013 in partnership with Kodansha USA Publishing to deliver new installments of popular manga to subscribers, with certain series receiving exclusive treatment. simulpub. However, in the following years, Crunchyroll withdrew many titles from the collection, including 24 simulpub and non-simulpub titles in 2018. According to Kodansha USA, they were forced to withdraw these titles due to changes in The company’s simulpub distributor chapter.
Although not directly stated, Crunchyroll’s decision to shut down its manga app may be related to the recent expansion of its anime and gaming sections. In addition to launching a 24/7 anime channel in the US, Crunchyroll also recently launched a video game app that offers a variety of anime-inspired mobile games. Available to Mega-fan and Ultimate-fan subscribers of Crunchyroll, Crunchyroll Game Vault offers a myriad of titles, from laid-back puzzlers like Inbento to beat ’em ups like River City Girls. According to Terry Li, Executive Vice President of Emerging Businesses at Crunchyroll, the company’s main goal with Game Vault is to “curate a selection of games that is broad enough to appeal to a broad enough base of our fans.”
In addition to being a mobile gaming hub, Crunchyroll also operates its own game development division. Currently, Crunchyroll Games is developing a popular title called One-Punch Man World — a free-to-play online multiplayer action title inspired by the cult classic One series. In this game, players will control Saitama, Genos, and other great heroes to protect humanity while exploring the vast, fascinating world of Z-City. Li describes the title as a particularly “huge” endeavor for his company. “We’ve never really pursued a title this big because historically we’ve been very focused on mobile titles,” Li said. “One-Punch Man World is the first instance of us really aiming for a PC-first experience.”
Crunchyroll’s digital Manga service will officially shut down on December 11.
Source: Anime News Network
