GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen brushes off the importance of physical video game sales when it comes to the retailer’s current revenue stream.
GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen called physical video game software sales “totally irrelevant” and dismissed the notion that the shift toward digital exclusivity by companies like Sony would have a notable impact on the gaming retailer’s bottom line. The GameStop CEO’s controversial words came after PlayStation announced it would end physical disc production for games released after January 2028.
Cohen’s statement came a day after GameStop announced a new partnership with UberEats to offer same-day delivery of gaming products and collectibles throughout the US. GameStop joined other retailers in offering delivery via the UberEats app. However, deliveries made via UberEats will result in additional fees and can only be done by users who live near a GameStop retail location. The partnership with UberEats will not affect GameStop’s current method of shipping games directly to consumers across the country.
GameStop CEO Brushes Off the Importance of Physical Video Game Sales
Although PlayStation has been criticized for moving away from physical game releases starting in 2028, GameStop’s lead executive dismissed the notion that it would do any meaningful harm to the gaming retailer. In a Bloomberg interview, Cohen said that console gaming’s imminent shift away from physical disc releases did not matter to GameStop’s current revenue stream. In short, Cohen said, “It is totally, totally irrelevant.” Cohen then claimed that GameStop’s software sales made up less than 12% of the retailer’s current business, while collectibles make up over half of it. The GameStop executive added that, while software sales mattered in the past to GameStop, the move toward digital exclusivity would not affect GameStop’s bottom line due to the retailer’s focus on collectible items.
Some of the collectibles that make up GameStop’s current revenue stream include Pokemon Trading Card Game packs and expansion sets. However, GameStop has come under fire for offering Pokemon TCG products at prices much higher than the MSRP. Some Pokemon fans called on The Pokemon Company to look into GameStop’s prices on the Pokemon TCG: 30th Celebration expansion set. Although The Pokemon Company and various retailers in Japan have taken drastic measures to deter scalping of Pokemon cards and other collectibles, it is unclear if the company will take similar steps in the US and other nations going forward.
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