GameStop's stock has seen an increase following Sony's announcement to discontinue support for physical discs starting in January 2028. This resilience stems from a significant diversification of the company's business model, which has moved beyond its traditional reliance on game software sales.
For the 13 weeks ending May 2, 2026, software revenue, encompassing new, pre-owned, and digital games, accounted for $152.7 million, representing just 18.3% of GameStop's total revenue. This marks a decrease from the previous year's reporting period, where software sales generated $175.6 million, or 24% of the total revenue.
Collectibles emerged as GameStop's primary revenue driver during the latest quarter, bringing in $348.9 million, which constitutes 41.8% of the company's overall income. Hardware and accessories followed, generating $333.7 million, or 39.9% of revenue.
While Sony's decision to phase out physical discs is not ideal for GameStop, its immediate impact is expected to be minimal given the 2028 implementation date. For instance, despite upcoming titles like Rockstar's GTA 6 reportedly foregoing physical discs, physical copies containing codes may still be available for purchase at GameStop. The company's stock also experienced a recent boost attributed to CEO Ryan Cohen's renewed focus on a potential eBay acquisition and the abandonment of a substantial pay package incentive.
Sony cited a preference for digital consumption among the majority of its user base as the reason for discontinuing disc support. Industry experts anticipate that the PlayStation 6, expected to launch no earlier than 2028, will be a digital-only console.