Crunchyroll expands into gaming with launch of mobile games for premium subscribers

Anime streaming service Crunchyroll is expanding into the gaming industry with the launch of mobile games on its platform, similar to Netflix approach. The new feature, known as the Crunchyroll Game Vault, is available to Mega Fan and Ultimate Fan subscribers, the platform's premium subscription levels.

The Game Vault currently features five indie games: Captain Velvet: The Jump+ Dimensions, River City Girls, Wolfstride, Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery, and Inbento. These games are complimentary for subscribers and do not contain any in-app purchases, mirroring the strategies of Netflix and Apple Arcade.

Crunchyroll's game selections are aimed at a specific demographic: fans of anime and anime-inspired entertainment, differentiating it from broader gaming subscription services like Xbox Game Pass, Playstation Plus or Amazon Luna. The company plans to regularly update the Game Vault with new titles.