Crunchyroll’s app for Nintendo Switch is being discontinued on October 30, 2026, the company confirmed this week after quietly pulling the app from the Nintendo eShop. Neither Crunchyroll nor Nintendo has explained why, and the app also isn’t available on Switch 2 — but the anime library keeps working everywhere else, from crunchyroll.com to Xbox and PlayStation.
Crunchyroll emailed subscribers about the shutdown on Thursday, August 27, 2026, the same day the app disappeared from the Nintendo eShop. Anime News Network and Nintendo Life both confirmed the news within hours.
What’s Actually Changing on October 30
The Crunchyroll app on the original Nintendo Switch will stop functioning at 9:00 AM PT on October 30, 2026 — even for people who already have it downloaded. New downloads aren’t an option either: Crunchyroll pulled the listing from the Nintendo eShop on August 27, so anyone who deletes the app between now and the shutdown date won’t be able to reinstall it.
| Detail | What We Know |
|---|---|
| App affected | Crunchyroll on the original Nintendo Switch |
| Shutdown date | October 30, 2026, 9:00 AM PT |
| Pulled from eShop | August 27, 2026 |
| Official reason given | None disclosed by Crunchyroll or Nintendo |
| Available on Switch 2? | No |
| Still works on | crunchyroll.com, the Crunchyroll mobile app, Xbox, PlayStation, smart TVs, and 30+ other platforms |
Why Is Crunchyroll Leaving Nintendo Switch?
Neither company has said. Crunchyroll’s shutdown email to subscribers gave a date and nothing else, and Nintendo hasn’t issued a statement of its own. The one pattern worth flagging: Hulu was also quietly dropped from the original Switch’s app lineup earlier this year, which points toward this being a platform-side cleanup of older, low-traffic Switch apps rather than a decision Crunchyroll chose to make on its own. That’s an inference from the timing, not a confirmed reason — take it as informed speculation, not fact.
Where You Can Still Watch Crunchyroll
Your subscription and account aren’t affected — only the Switch app is going away. The same login still works on crunchyroll.com, the Crunchyroll app on phones and tablets, Xbox, PlayStation, most smart TVs, and the more than 30 other platforms Crunchyroll lists as supported. If you use a Switch as your main way to watch anime in the living room, a PlayStation, Xbox, or smart TV app is the closest replacement.
For more on what’s actually worth streaming right now, see our guide to Delicious in Dungeon’s watch order and our breakdown of where to stream every episode of Fallout.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Crunchyroll app stop working on Nintendo Switch?
It will stop functioning at 9:00 AM PT on October 30, 2026, even if you already have it downloaded and installed.
Can I still download or reinstall the Crunchyroll app on Switch?
No. Crunchyroll removed the app from the Nintendo eShop on August 27, 2026, so it can no longer be newly downloaded or reinstalled after being deleted.
Will I lose my Crunchyroll subscription or premium membership?
No. Only the Nintendo Switch app is shutting down. Your subscription, watch history, and account carry over to any other supported platform.
Is Crunchyroll available on Nintendo Switch 2?
No. As of this shutdown announcement, Crunchyroll has not released an app for Nintendo Switch 2.
Why is Crunchyroll shutting down its Nintendo Switch app?
Neither Crunchyroll nor Nintendo has given an official reason. Hulu was also recently removed from the original Switch, which suggests a broader platform cleanup, but that connection hasn’t been confirmed by either company.
