Keep It or Delete It?: Pushmo (3DS eShop)
Keep It or Delete It?: Quasar Quinn: Escape from Zargnon (Android)
Keep It or Delete It?: Mutant Mudds (3DS eShop)
Final Cut: Hetalia: World Series (Season 3) (DVD)
Keep It or Delete It?: Paper Monsters (iPad)
Crunchyroll CEO, Kun Gao, has announced that the website will discontinue their download-to-own service and concentrate their energy towards simulcasting anime as it is released in Japan. The download service will end on March 31st, and all downloads must be completed by May 1st. Crunchyroll has already simulcasts a wide variety of anime including Naruto Shippuden, Gintama, Hanasakeru Seishonen, Fairy Tail and Shugo Chara.
Crunchyroll currently offers anime or drama viewing memberships for $6.95 per month (or $60 for a year pass) each or a combination membership for $11.95 (or $100 for a year pass). There is no word whether these subscription fees will change once the download service ends.
Gao released the following statement about their decision:
“To date, thousands of enthusiastic users have embraced Crunchyroll‘s DRM-free download-to-own product. However, our core business and the future for anime is simulcast. We aim to bring all of Japan’s anime to the world at the same time its Japanese broadcast.
Crunchyroll already streams over 50% of on-air anime within 1 hour of Japan TV broadcast today, and we want to focus and bring the best possible experience and the most content possible, so that we can obtain 100% of on-air anime soon.
We are dedicating more resources to provide the best experience for Anime fans, and are increasing the number of ways they can stream content from our site.
Recently, we launched our Crunchyroll iPhone Application. Although still in its Alpha state, anime viewers can now stream hit titles such as Naruto Shippūden on their iPhone or iPod touch directly from Crunchyroll. So far this application has been a huge success. We already have ten times more Crunchyroll iPhone App than DTO users.
I want to thank all the fans who have supported Crunchyroll. As the number one online destination for anime, we look forward to continuing to be the most innovative and to provide the best anime experience to all fans.
If any fans have questions regarding their DTO, please don’t hesitate to contact our support line at support@crunchyroll.com.”
