- GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen says Sony’s decision to end physical game production is ‘totally irrelevant’ to the company
- The statement is supported by both physical and digital games, which only contribute 18% to overall revenue
- Cohen’s comments likely won’t help gamers in their push to retain physical game discs
The backlash against Sony continues after its controversial choice to stop new physical disc production of PlayStation games from January 2028 and it looks like the US’ biggest dedicated video game retailer isn’t taking a stand.
In an interview with Bloomberg, GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen dismissed the idea that the company will be impacted by Sony’s decision to end physical game copies, stating “it doesn’t matter at all,” despite ongoing uproar from consumers.
“It mattered in the past; software makes up less than 12% of the business,” Cohen said. “Collectibles makes up over half of the business, so it’s totally irrelevant.”
Frankly, it’s a harsh and cold stance, but it isn’t exactly incorrect, as Bloomberg highlights that both physical and digital copies of games are only 18% of GameStop’s total revenue. The store has mostly transitioned to a focus on collectibles like Pokémon cards, and that’s evident the moment you visit its website.
It’s no secret that Sony’s decision to end disc production in 2028 hasn’t gone down well with most consumers, as many feel as though it’s a direct threat to game ownership. A digital-only console means games (or other media) can be taken away from gamers at any time, and Sony has done that recently with over 500 purchased movies removed from user libraries.
Essentially, GameStop’s reasoning for the end of game discs being irrelevant is similar to Sony’s, as Sony highlighted the fact that most gamers are purchasing copies digitally in its announcement.
Despite that, the consensus among consumers is that the elimination of discs is quite unnecessary, only cutting off another option of purchase. It’s also worth noting that prices for games on the PlayStation Store won’t be as low as they would usually be via second-hand or video game retailers.
Sony has yet to address the matter since the announcement, even with the sheer amount of backlash it’s receiving online, and gamers will likely be hoping that statements from CEOs like Cohen won’t harm the fight to retain physical game copies.
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