Entertainment
GameStop Finally Going Digital With A Bid To Purchase One Of The Biggest Online Marketplaces
By TeeJay Small
| Published
Consumers of a certain age may have distinct memories of an analog era, before Netflix, Steam, and the App Store shifted every purchase to digital home streaming. Before online retailers were all the rage, GameStop was the premier destination for video games, consoles, and a wide range of Nintendo merchandise. Now, it seems like GameStop is officially preparing to enter the digital era (only about a decade and a half too late,) as Variety reports the business has made a $56 billion bid to acquire eBay. The unsolicited bid has not yet resulted in a sale, though it did drive eBay stock prices up by a margin of 4 percent.
The details of the acquisition are fairly straightforward, if a little unexpected. If and when the sale goes through, GameStop will purchase a 100 percent stake in the online auction outlet, valuing eBay at over $55 billion. Half of the money from the sale will be paid out in cash, and the other half will be covered by GameStop stock shares. The video game retailer also plans to procure a $20 billion loan from TD Bank in order to ensure it has enough cash on hand.
Currently, eBay’s board has expressed that it will “carefully review and consider” the offer, though consumers are a bit skeptical. For now, there’s no word on how the sale would impact either business or if eBay would simply become liquidated as a digital sales outlet for GameStop. If this is the case, GameStop will surely have its work cut out for it, since Steam and other digital game sellers have an insurmountable lead.
Of course, as Variety notes, current GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen has been working tirelessly to bring the corporation into the 21st century. Since taking over in 2021, Cohen has added hundreds of millions in net income, all without taking a salary or any cash bonuses. Instead, Cohen receives most of his pay through stock options, so he’s got a serious vested interest in pumping GameStop stock wherever possible. If anyone is capable of handling this transition, he seems primed for the responsibility.
The major question that hangs over this acquisition is, why eBay? Surely it would be cheaper for GameStop to build its own digital library, or even acquire a lesser-known IP and scale to size. The auctioning and bartering system eBay uses isn’t wholly unique to their platform, and the service has already begun to wane in popularity throughout the 2020s. For now, we’ll just have to wait and see if there’s a larger financial play at hand. And perhaps do so while streaming video games directly from the PlayStation Store.
Entertainment
Googlebooks: Excited. Terrified. Heres why
Google’s laptop vision sounds great—if it survives.
on
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!
Entertainment
The best HBO Max deals and bundles in May 2026
The best HBO Max deals and bundles in May 2026:
Looking for some exciting new films or shows to watch this spring? HBO Max is the place to find them. With a new season of Euphoria dropping weekly on the platform and a brand new season of House of the Dragon coming in June, there’s plenty to watch right now.
If these have caught your eye, the good news is that HBO Max has a few different bundles available at the moment that are worth checking out, including a popular bundle with Disney+ and Hulu. With streaming prices on the rise, a bundle like this can be a great way to save some cash while retaining access to your favorite services.
Alongside bundles, we’ve also broken down HBO Max’s standard plans in case you’re interested in its service on its own.
Best Disney+ bundle deal
$19.99/month with ads, $32.99/month ad-free
Why we like it
The HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu bundle is a top-tier choice for those looking to have access to some of the biggest streaming services around. Starting at $19.99 per month, this bundle grants you access to Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max’s streaming services for a much lower price than what you’d pay for them on their own. If you’ve already got Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions, this bundle is worth every cent. If you’re interested, there are two plan options to choose from:
Best Hulu bundle deal
Add HBO Max to your Hulu base plan from $10.99 per month
Why we like it
If you’re not interested in the Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max mega bundle, you can just get Hulu and HBO Max together if you already have a Hulu base plan, which starts at $11.99 per month. HBO Max Basic with Ads can be added onto your plan for $10.99 per month, or you can splash out on the HBO Max Standard plan for $18.49 per month.
Best student deal
Students save 50% on HBO Max Basic With Ads
Why we like it
It’s always nice when streaming services have a deal for students, and HBO Max’s offer is definitely worth taking advantage of. Students who can verify their status with UNiDAYS are eligible to get the HBO Max Basic With Ads plan for just $5.49 per month. That’s a 50% discount off its $10.99 monthly price. After verifying your status, you’ll receive a unique code that can be used to redeem the discounted plan on HBO Max.
HBO Max’s monthly plans
HBO Max offers a few different subscription plans. If you don’t mind having to sit through ads, HBO Max’s Basic With Ads plan starts at $10.99 per month or the annual plan runs for $109.99 per year. If you can’t stand ads and don’t mind throwing down a bit more cash, the Standard plan will cost you $18.49 per month or $184.99 per year. If you really want to go big on an HBO Max plan, you can spring for the fancy Premium plan, which costs $22.99 per month or $229.99 per year.
Below we’ve broken down what comes with each of these plans, per HBO Max’s website, so you can know a bit more before you buy.
Basic With Ads — $10.99 per month, $109.99 per year
Mashable Deals
Standard (Ad-free) — $18.49 per month, $184.99 per year
Premium (Ad-free) — $22.99 per month, $229.99 per year
-
Stream on four devices at once
-
4K Ultra HD video quality (as available)
-
Dolby Atmos immersive audio (as available)
-
100 downloads to watch on the go
If you’re wondering where to start once you’ve set yourself up with a HBO Max subscription, we’ve got an excellent selection of recommendations to point you in the right direction. Looking for a great TV show to kickstart your next binge-watching session? Have a look through our roundup of the 20 best TV shows streaming on HBO Max. Or if you prefer movies, we narrowed down the 25 best movies on HBO Max to make your next movie night a spectacular one.
Entertainment
Ive tested dozens of earbuds. I like these 3 AirPods alternatives.
Folks who prefer earbuds with a stem, people who want great ANC for under $100, anyone looking for excellent battery life, and anyone who wants an all-around pair of earbuds that make as much sense at the gym as they do in the office should opt for the EarFun Air Pro 4.
Most similar to: AirPods 4 with ANC
The EarFun Air Pro 4s are a no-brainer pick as an affordable AirPods alternative — they are Mashable’s favorite ANC earbuds under $100 after all. Performance-wise, they’ll sit more in line with the AirPods 4, but fit-wise, they’ll be more similar to the AirPods Pro 3, thanks to the silicone ear tips that situate more firmly in the ear canal. Honestly, that’s a plus — the AirPods 4 can be much more hit-or-miss at fitting different ear shapes. Beyond the design, these earbuds have impressively adept ANC powered by six internal microphones. Plus, it’s adjustable. I can’t say I noticed massive differences between the various levels, but still, I appreciated that the flexibility was there. Much like the Sony XM6 buds, EarFun shows up Apple when it comes to the customization of the sound profile, thanks to the custom equalizer and presets. Especially for the price point, the sound is surprisingly robust, clear, and dynamic. Maybe not quite on Apple’s level, but not too far off, either. Finally, you’ll get between seven and a half to eight hours of battery life per charge, plus 27 and a half additional hours with the case, making them a great option for anyone who finds themselves using their earbuds round the clock and running down the battery more often than they’d prefer.
Affordability: These earbuds are already $79.99, but almost always go on sale for $62.99, and occasionally even lower to $53.99.
What you might miss: Despite the similarly stemmed design to AirPods, EarFun opts for touch controls on these earbuds, which are mildly consistent at best and straight-up inconsistent at work. During my testing of the buds, I ended up toggling the touch controls off because I found them a little too frustrating to use. The case is also on the bigger side, making the earbuds not quite as portable as AirPods.
Astros 2B Jose Altuve placed on IL with Grade 2 left oblique strain
Aaron Rai emerges to win first major; 1st Englishman to win PGA since 1919
