Manga publishing giant Shueisha has just launched their signature international manga reading app subscription program Manga Plus, also publishes serialized titles in Weekly Shonen Jump. The new service is called Manga Plus Max and has two subscription tiers, each offering different perks. According to Shueisha’s editorial board, this change is intended to make manga more accessible globally.
Manga Plus was launched in 2019 as Shueisha’s first attempt to promote manga globally. Starting with 50 manga, the library has grown over time and in 2021, the content is accessible in more languages such as Thai, Indonesian and Russian. However, the actual availability of the content is still limited by strict publishing licenses. With a few exceptions, manga chapters can only be read once, and the series is currently serialized only offering the latest three chapters.
Manga Plus finally introduces subscription plans
With the new Manga Plus version, there are two tiers offered: Standard Package and Premium Package. The Standard Plan costs $1.99 monthly for the US, Canada, and other Western countries, while the Premium Plan costs $4.99 but prices will vary by region. Both levels will be ad-free, but the Standard Plan offers unlimited access to all currently serialized manga like My Hero Academia, Jujutsu Kaisen, and One Piece. The more expensive Deluxe package extends this to all ongoing and completed manga, including classics like Naruto, Bleach, and Dragon Ball. Both tiers are available for English titles only, and the Standard Plan comes with the first month free.
Whether or not the series will be available for download has not yet been announced. Manga Plus is available on both mobile and web, but the subscription is mobile-only. Readers can still access limited chapters for free without a subscription in the exact same way they have done so far, and it’s unlikely this feature will be removed in the near future as it has brought Manga Plus a huge audience of up to 6 people. million monthly readers. Hopefully this change will also have a positive impact on the fight against piracy, reducing the need for illegal scanning.
Western fans can finally access all the manga content they want
Shueisha launched this project following the launch of the NEXTWAVE campaign, which saw a stream of new series by promising young authors begin serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump. This Manga Plus upgrade is welcome news for many Western fans who want to access more chapters of their favorite manga series, which are not available outside the US (with the Shonen Jump app from Viz Media). This is also a way for fans to show concrete support for their favorite series, the authors and the publishing companies that bring them to the world. Manga and anime are becoming increasingly popular around the world, and with Manga Plus finally becoming a subscription app, the availability and popularity of the media is sure to increase even more.
Source: MangaPlus.
