GameStop CEO Says Physical Discs 'No Problem' as Software Sales Under 12%
GameStop's shift from software to collectibles means the company's core business is no longer tied to physical game discs, undercutting the usual narrative that digital-only releases threaten its retail model.
Reporting from 1 source: Game Spark.
GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen said in a Bloomberg interview that the end of physical game discs is "no problem" because software now accounts for less than 12% of the company's revenue. Collectibles like trading cards and figures make up over half the business. Cohen also discussed the planned eBay acquisition and dismissed concerns about debt, while the UK's ERA has criticized removing disc options.
The interview, published July 17, centered on GameStop's bid to acquire eBay. Cohen argued that combining eBay's logistics with GameStop's physical stores could cut costs, and that the company could expand into live commerce for collectibles and even build in-game digital marketplaces. When asked about the industry's move to disc-free games, Cohen said software revenue is now under 12% of the business-collectibles account for more than half-so disc removal would not hurt GameStop. The UK's Entertainment Retailers Association has taken the opposite stance, arguing that removing disc options limits consumer choice. Cohen's comments suggest GameStop no longer sees itself as a game retailer first.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.