Moments ago, PlayStation boss Hideaki Nishino took to the stage at the inaugural Crunchyroll Anime Future Forum to confirm it’ll be integrating anime into the PS5’s main menu with a “dedicated hub”, beginning Spring 2027.

He said the initiative will help “make it easier for the PlayStation community to discover and explore the anime content they enjoy”.

PS5 owners can already access Crunchyroll anime via the dedicated app available for the console, but this new initiative will place the streaming service front and centre.

Sony acquired the subscription-based platform for $1.1 billion in 2021.

I’ve asked Crunchyroll for some mock-up images of how this might look, and will update when they reply.

Meanwhile, the press release says:

“Anime and gaming have deeply engaged and overlapping fan communities, and the new experience will bring those worlds closer together on PS5. Anime and gaming have deeply engaged and overlapping fan communities, and the new experience will bring those worlds closer together on PS5.”

PS Productions is working on its own anime series with Ghost of Tsushima: Legends, due out next year.

Meanwhile, Sony has earmarked anime as a massive growth vector, as it continues its transition to entertainment. It’s currently one of the leading players in the market, as its Sony Music subsidiary also owns Aniplex.

How do you feel about anime being added to the PS5 home screen with its own dedicated hub area? Let me know below.