GTA 6 release could cost US economy $1 billion in lost productivity

The upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6) is projected to cause significant economic disruption due to widespread employee absenteeism. An academic analysis by José García Montalvo, a professor at Pompeu Fabra University, suggests that approximately 1.5 million workers in the United States might call in sick on the game's launch day to play.

Based on an estimated average annual productivity of $70,000 per worker, these absences could result in a potential loss of nearly $1 billion for the US economy. This estimate suggests a possible 2 percent drop in US productivity on the day of release.

Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick previously alluded to this phenomenon during an industry conference, jokingly noting that many people might call in sick on November 19. This trend mirrors the 2013 launch of GTA V, when reports indicated that roughly 6 percent of urban workers aged 18 to 35 took time off. GTA 6 is scheduled for release on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.