GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen Insists Sony Killing Physical Discs Doesn't Matter at All to His Company

Key Points:

• GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen stated that sales of physical games are "totally irrelevant" to the company's business, emphasizing that collectibles now make up over half of GameStop's revenue while software sales account for less than 12%.
• Cohen highlighted that GameStop is no longer reliant on traditional game sales and is focusing on collectibles, merchandise, and trading cards to drive growth, dismissing concerns about Sony's move to stop printing physical game discs by 2028.
• When asked about the impact of upcoming major game releases like Grand Theft Auto 6, Cohen sidestepped the question and instead discussed his failed $55.5 billion bid for eBay, suggesting future plans involve integrating eBay’s infrastructure for digital marketplaces and live commerce.
• GameStop has been closing numerous physical stores to cut costs, reducing its U.S. locations from around 2,325 at the start of 2025 by 590 closures that year, and continuing closures into 2026 amid efforts to reinvent its business model.
• The company has faced criticism for its shifting strategies, including abandoning crypto and NFTs, and recently held a controversial Trade Anything Day, reflecting its ongoing struggle to redefine itself beyond a traditional brick-and-mortar retailer.