‘Grand Theft Auto 6’ Launch Could Cost U.S. Economy $1 Billion As 1.5 Million Workers Expected To Skip Work

The long-awaited release of Grand Theft Auto 6 next month could cost the U.S. economy an estimated $1 billion in lost productivity in a single day, as an estimated 1.5 million Americans are expected to skip work to play the game.

GTA 6 launches Thursday, Nov. 19, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. According to the International Business Times, roughly 1.5 million American workers are expected to stay home that day, whether by calling in sick or taking planned time off.

The report cited an economist’s estimate that the sudden absence would trim national output by roughly 2% for the day. Assuming the average worker produces about $70,000 in output per year, the report says that adds up to a $1 billion hit to U.S. productivity. The figures are rough projections, and the actual number of no-shows won’t be known until after launch.

Tech companies, whose workforces skew younger, are expected to feel the sharpest impact.

Even the game’s publisher is bracing for the “GTA flu.” Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Rockstar Games’ parent company Take-Two Interactive, acknowledged the phenomenon at a recent conference in Las Vegas.

“I think a lot of people will be calling in sick on November 19,” Zelnick said.

Not every absence will surprise employers. According to The Wall Street Journal, some workers have been banking paid time off for months to clear their schedules for launch day, and some companies have even built the date into their end-of-year compensation packages.

One U.S. Army unit has gone further. The 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion at Fort Stewart in Georgia is offering soldiers who sign reenlistment contracts a special four-day pass in November, giving them time off to play the game.

This isn’t the first time a Grand Theft Auto release has emptied out offices. When GTA V launched in 2013, an IGN survey of 11,000 readers found that 46% had taken the day off, and nearly 20% planned to call in sick.

While the broader economy may take a hit, Rockstar and Take-Two stand to cash in. The game has already generated nearly $600 million in preorder revenue, according to Sensor Tower, and market research firm Newzoo estimates GTA 6 could bring in up to $4.5 billion in retail bookings during its opening week. Take-Two expects more than $1 billion in operating cash flow this fiscal year, driven largely by the release.

GTA 6 has been in development for more than a decade and marks the franchise’s first new entry since GTA V. The game follows protagonists Jason and Lucia across the fictional state of Leonida, including a modern-day return to Vice City. The standard edition costs $80.

Rockstar gave fans their first extended look at gameplay in August with a 25-minute preview that premiered on Netflix before hitting YouTube, further fueling anticipation for one of the most hyped launches in video game history.