The Crunchyroll Manga app has officially expanded its footprint, bringing its library of titles to readers in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and several South Asian nations, including India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. This rollout follows the service's initial launch in the United States and Canada last year, maintaining its status as a standalone, ad-free experience distinct from the primary anime streaming platform.
Beyond mobile expansion, the company announced plans for a dedicated anime hub on the PlayStation 5, scheduled to arrive next spring. This new console interface aims to consolidate anime-focused content, including both streaming series and anime-inspired gaming titles. This move coincides with a shift in the platform's hardware strategy, as Crunchyroll prepares to discontinue its main streaming application on the Nintendo Switch on October 30.
While the manga app continues to grow, the broader ecosystem has seen significant changes over the past year, including the removal of free ad-supported streaming tiers and a general subscription price increase in the U.S. market. With the Switch app sunsetting, users looking for console access will need to pivot to other supported hardware like the PlayStation or Xbox ecosystems to maintain their viewing habits.
