A new report projects that approximately 1.5 million Americans will call in sick on November 19 to play Grand Theft Auto 6 on its release day. According to the International Business Times, the mass absenteeism could reduce national output by 2 percent and cost companies an estimated $1 billion. Technology firms, which tend to employ a younger demographic, are expected to be the hardest hit.
Market research firm Newzoo estimates GTA 6 could sell at least 37 million copies in its opening week, with consumer spending reaching up to $4.5 billion. A separate Wall Street Journal report indicates some employees have been saving vacation days specifically for the launch, while certain companies have deliberately avoided scheduling major events on November 19. Earlier this year, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick predicted the phenomenon, stating he believed “a lot of people will be calling in sick on November 19.”
Houston Rockets center Steven Adams has suggested NBA performance “league-wide” could “plummet” in November due to the game’s distraction, with the NFL similarly expected to see a dip in player focus. Arriving thirteen years after Grand Theft Auto 5, the sequel is projected to be the most expensive video game ever developed and has reportedly already moved more than 4 million units via pre-order.
Anticipation for Grand Theft Auto 6—which Rockstar Games says runs “best” on PlayStation—has also driven demand for PlayStation 5 Pro consoles, many of which have been snapped up and resold on secondary markets such as eBay.
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