Well, it seems like Crunchyroll recognizes just how popular RWBY is and thus how much money they can make off of the show. Either that, or they think it’s an anime. Although to be fair, it is technically an anime with the debut of RWBY: Ice Queendom back in March 25, 2022; but that’s beside the point. The point is: what else do you call it when Crunchyroll has effective bought RWBY Volume 9 for a year from Rooster Teeth? And is showing off their shiny new purchase with a brand new trailer to boot?

Crunchyroll Buys RWBY?!

Behold Weiss as she’s about to perform a one-handed lift of Yggdrasil…not.

The official Twitter account of RWBY and Rooster Teeth (as reported by Crunchyroll) is announcing that the long-awaited RWBY Volume 9 is making its global premiere on Crunchyroll. As you can tell by the trailer above, Crunchyroll officially confirms it as well. In fact, at the end of the trailer, they even give us exactly when this latest season will premiere there.

'RWBY Volume 9' screenshot showing Ruby staring at one of Penny's swords, with Penny's face reflected in the blade.
And maybe find out Penny’s ultimate fate in this weird Wonderland world.

Apparently, RWBY Volume 9 will premiere on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 7:30 AM (PT) / 9:30 AM (CT). Not only that, but this premiere will take place on Crunchyroll, and on Crunchyroll only. For you see, Rooster Teeth has signed a one-year exclusivity deal with Crunchyroll to stream this latest season of the show only on the anime streaming platform. Crunchyroll does not mention how much money they paid to Rooster Teeth for that to have happened. All they’re saying is that the deal happened, so we can only watch Volume 9 on Crunchyroll. Along with all the previous RWBY volumes (from the very first Volume 1 all the way to the currently current Volume 8) on Crunchyroll.

In fact, I’m not sure if Volume 9 might even be on Rooster Teeth’s own official website. Neither Crunchyroll nor Rooster Teeth’s Tweet says anything about that. However, if this exclusivity deal applies to Rooster Teeth as well, then it’s possible that they might not even be able to stream their own show on their own website. Thankfully, this is just speculation for now. We’ll just have to wait for either Crunchyroll or Rooster Teeth to confirm it at a later date. Tune back in to THS later to find that out when we do.

Source: Crunchyroll News