GameStop CEO Declares Physical Games Are Now ‘Completely Irrelevant’

GameStop’s CEO, Ryan Cohen, isn’t fazed by the news that PlayStation is moving away from physical discs. He claims that the end of physical games is “totally irrelevant” to the company’s future.

In a recent interview, Cohen addressed the shift away from physical video game discs following Sony’s announcement that it would stop producing new physical PlayStation games starting in 2028. However, he believes this change won’t impact GameStop.

“It doesn’t matter at all,” Cohen stated. “It is totally, totally irrelevant.” As noted, GameStop has evolved from primarily selling software to focusing on collectibles, trading cards, toys, and items like Funko Pops. Earlier this year, it was revealed that game sales only made up 18 percent of GameStop’s revenue, while trading cards and toys accounted for 41 percent.

Cohen’s strategy reflects this shift, as he attempted to acquire the online auction site eBay for around $55 billion, although eBay declined the unsolicited offer in May.

When asked about the excitement surrounding Take-Two’s upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6, which is set to launch as a digital-only title in November, Cohen sidestepped the question, instead expressing a desire to revisit the topic of eBay. This means GameStop won’t be able to sell used copies of GTA 6 after its release, and with rumors suggesting that the game may not see a physical release beyond a code in a box, GameStop might miss out on selling used copies altogether.

Regardless, Cohen remains focused on his eBay ambitions. He recently shared his vision in an unusual interview, suggesting that a partnership between GameStop and eBay could potentially create a “$1 trillion business.” This explains why he continues to pursue the idea of acquiring eBay, bringing it up again in June. Good luck with that, Ryan.