A crucial role is the launch of its own subscription service

Critical role becomes independent. Following the split from Geek & Sundry (and its parent company Legendary Entertainment) several years ago, the hugely popular real-play web series has evolved significantly from a single show to its own network and company. Now it’s taking the logical next step and launching its own membership service called beacon. Beacon will be an optional replacement for the extremely dedicated Critters who want to directly support the company and the people behind it Critical role make no real effort to disguise the fact that this subscription is intended to help reduce reliance on video platforms like YouTube and Twitch.

First, Beacon will have no impact on the viewers who watched Critical role free on YouTube and Twitch. According to Travis Willingham, CRThe CEO of ‘s, as well as one of its actors, said: “You will still be able to watch and listen unhindered, with the same release schedule that has always been in place for all of these nine years over ten years.” Beacon will be over will exist as an additional layer to this regular show rhythm that will provide fans with a more “unfiltered experience.” It doesn’t work quite as much as it’s advertised Stand outwhich, while hosting all of its programming through its subscription service, does Also avoid the pitfalls recent Watcher debaclewhich faced backlash for hastily hiding its future content behind an unpopular subscription before reversing the decision.

For $5.99/month or $59.99/year, Beacon members receive a number of new exclusive programs, such as a post-show reaction called CR Cooldown, as well as fairly standard benefits such as merch discounts, pre-sales for live Event tickets, early access to shows and a private Discord.

Marisha Rey, another performer and owner of CR

, cuts to the larger point of the subscription a few minutes into the announcement video. “Over the years, it’s become a big priority for us to move more and more of our business in-house, and it’s no secret that video platforms… let’s just say they’ve had their ups and downs lately,” Rey goes on to say how countless CR The videos were demonetized either because the performers had “the vocabulary of teenage sailors” or because they showed advertising that did not reflect the company’s values. Beacon is a way to provide more benefits to the most dedicated people CR To attract fans and establish a direct line with them, but it is also the company’s attempt to cut out YouTube and Twitch as much as possible, as they have become increasingly unstable platforms for its creators and other third-party companies like Patreon, the team thought before it landed on Beacon.

Rey emphasized that the team is still building and adding to Beacon and asked for patience CR fans as they continue to work on it and “spice it up.” To that end, Matt Mercer, the CEO of the premier tabletop show, also teased that the company has big plans for its upcoming tenth anniversary and Beacon will likely play a role in that, as it has a larger role in the company’s plans and structure for the future.