Claims have emerged that the release of the video game Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA6) could lead to an economic loss of $1 billion in the United States in just one day. The game is set to launch on November 19.
According to U.S. business magazine Fortune and British gaming outlet GamesRadar, it is estimated that around 1.5 million American workers may take a day off on the release date, resulting in a productivity loss of up to $1 billion. However, this estimate is not based on official economic forecasts or verified research, and the methodology for calculating the expected absenteeism of 1.5 million workers has not been confirmed, raising questions about the accuracy of the loss figure.
Taking time off does not necessarily equate to economic loss. If employees use vacation days on the game’s release date or defer their work to later, the actual decrease in productivity may be limited. Nonetheless, the discussion surrounding the impact of a single game release on employee vacations and the national economy highlights the significant interest in GTA6.
GTA6 is a crime action game developed by American company Rockstar Games, set in a fictional city modeled after Miami. It is the sequel to GTA5, which was released 13 years ago in 2013.
Interest in the game is also reflected in U.S. workers' vacation plans. A survey conducted by HR software company BambooHR from September 9 to 20 among 1,530 full-time employees found that 18% of respondents plan to take time off on the GTA6 release date, with the figure rising to 32% among Gen Z workers.
Data on actual vacation requests also shows a notable change. An analysis by BambooHR of data from over 3.4 million U.S. workers revealed that the vacation request rate for November 19 is approximately 13% higher than the same week in 2024 and 2025. However, since overall vacation request rates have increased by 2% to 4% this year, it cannot be definitively concluded that the increase is solely due to GTA6.
Additionally, a separate survey highlighted by U.S. business outlet Fast Company last month found that 39% of 1,000 U.S. workers who play video games plan to request time off in advance to play GTA6. Meanwhile, 36% indicated they would take sick leave, and 32% said they intend to play the game while working from home. This survey reflects the intentions of gamers and does not represent the views of all U.S. workers.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.