A new report indicates that GameStop is preparing to make an offer to buy eBay. If GameStop is successful, it would be a particularly interesting sale, as eBay has a considerably higher market value than GameStop.
GameStop has seen quite a tumultuous experience over the decade, with the game retailer seeing its stock dramatically rise and fall. In 2021, GameStop experienced a short squeeze meme stock era, where the share value at one point reached a whopping $483. However, that number has since dropped to a value typically bouncing around in the $20–$30 range in recent times.
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GameStop Is Reportedly Eyeing Offer to eBay
Now, in a new report from the Wall Street Journal, sources have said that GameStop is preparing to make an offer to buy internet auction retailer eBay. The attempt is apparently being made in an effort to turn GameStop into a “$100-billion plus juggernaut,” with an offer expected to be made no later than the end of May. Unfortunately, the full details of the offer aren’t known at this time, but the report is further cemented by current GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen’s recent efforts to turn the company around. He previously told the WSJ that he was looking into potential acquisitions in the consumer and retail sectors in particular, which also falls in line with this report.
Fit the 9 games into the grid.
Cohen is reportedly making an effort to scale GameStop beyond games and collectibles, and procuring eBay would certainly help with that. It is an unusual effort, however, as GameStop had a market value of $11 billion when the stock market closed for the day on Friday, whereas eBay came in at $45 billion. Investors seem to be excited, though, as the shares of both companies have risen following the breaking news. It’s also been said that if eBay refuses the offer, Cohen may attempt to make the offer to eBay’s shareholders.
Cohen has personal reasons for these efforts to turn the retailer around. GameStop has offered the CEO a compensation package worth about $35 billion if he’s able to increase GameStop’s market value by 10x or more. So far, the game retailer’s shares have risen roughly 30% since the start of 2026, all while numerous GameStop store closures have been reported. As a large shareholder in the company even prior to joining the company board in 2021, Cohen also stands to benefit from the overall share value of GameStop rising. EBay, on the other hand, has been making offers of its own, and announced a deal in February to purchase online marketplace Depop from Etsy for a whopping $1.2 billion.
Balance the critic averages
Balance the critic averages
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Meanwhile, gamers’ opinion of GameStop has varied in recent times. GameStop raised eyebrows when it announced that it would ban Pokemon TCG scalpers caught using scales at its stores, which some impacted players found appropriate and even applaudable. The retailer also unveiled a campaign recently of “Play really has no limits at GameStop,” encouraging gamers to buy physical games. This campaign likely hopes to capitalize upon gamers’ increasing frustration with online connections being a necessity, as well fears of digital copies of games becoming unusable or no longer available.