Grand Theft Auto VI release leads to 17 per cent increase in time-off requests

Grand Theft Auto VI’s November 19 release has prompted a surge in time-off requests, with some employers seeing up to 17 per cent more requests for the game’s launch day.

Grand Theft Auto VI is already having an impact on the workplace, with new data suggesting time-off requests have risen by as much as 17 per cent for the game’s release day.

According to data from HR software company BambooHR, reported by Money.com, requests for time off on November 19 have increased by between nine and 17 per cent compared with typical requests for the third Thursday of November.

There is no way to know exactly how many of those employees are planning to spend their day exploring Vice City, but the timing is difficult to ignore.

GTA 6 launches on November 19, and the sheer level of anticipation surrounding Rockstar’s next open-world blockbuster has already led to predictions of a significant hit to workplace productivity.

Economists have estimated that the game’s release could cost the US economy around $1 billion in lost productivity. Whether that figure proves accurate remains to be seen, but businesses may already be getting a taste of what is coming.

Rockstar has gone all-in on marketing GTA 6, spending heavily to turn its launch into a cultural event.

The developer reportedly paid $975,000 for a huge neon pink sign on top of the Miami Heat’s arena, while advertisements for fictional brands from the game have appeared across the real-world city.

Fans in Miami can even visit a real-life version of Burger Shot, the fictional fast-food chain from GTA.

The game’s marketing campaign will receive another major boost on November 18, when the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks face off in an unprecedented GTA 6-themed NBA game.

The Heat will temporarily become the Vice City Heat, complete with themed jerseys and a Vice City-inspired court.

All of this comes as Rockstar prepares for what could become one of the biggest entertainment launches ever.

GTA 6 is set to release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on November 19, with a PC version reportedly planned for early 2027.

For employers, the message may be simple: if your staff suddenly ask for November 19 off, they probably aren’t planning a particularly productive Thursday.