We are just a little over 30 days away from the release of GTA 6, which begs the question: Will you be taking time off of work or school to play it?
GTA 6 is one of the biggest pop culture events of the decade, if not in all of history, and as a result, it’s expected to cause some disruption. In addition to fears that the game’s highly-anticipated launch may create instability for ISPs and platform servers, many companies are also expected to have an irregular amount of employees calling out for the day. For months, fans on social media have been claiming they’re putting in PTO requests well in advance of November to ensure they can have the game’s release weekend available. So, will you be taking November 19 off? Let us know in the poll below, dear reader.
Economists have estimated that there will be a $1 billion loss in productivity during launch week due to people being absent from their jobs. A car tuning company known as Burger Motorsports has even announced that it will be closed on November 19, the day of the game’s release, due to an excess of employees requesting that day off. The Australian government has also released some interesting PSAs, informing citizens about their rights when it comes to taking time off around the release of GTA 6.
The U.S. Army even offered soldiers four days of time off for the game’s launch if they reenlist. NBA star Steven Adams also joked that the various sports leagues would see a drop in performance due to the release of GTA 6. Of course, Rockstar is ensuring that, regardless of performance, sports fans are hyper-aware of its upcoming game thanks to an unprecdented GTA 6-themed NBA regular season game in Miami and a blitz of advertising at the Hard Rock Stadium where the Miami Dolphins play.
It’s likely we will see a slew of other companies joining in on the GTA 6 hype as the game’s launch approaches. Rockstar Games is making sure the whole world knows that its highly-anticipated release is nearly here after multiple delays. A plethora of ads have been spotted in and around Miami, New York City, and Paris. Rockstar is also investing a boatload of cash into the game’s music, as it has produced an album filled with original music from the likes of Cardi B, Travis Scott, and Keith Richards. The game’s radio stations will also be hosted by major musicians like Lana Del Rey, Morgan Wallen, and Bad Bunny, where they will play a variety of mainstream hits.
The 13-year wait for a new GTA game is nearly over as GTA 6 will release on November 19 for Xbox Series X|S and PS5. A PC version is also rumored to release in the first quarter of 2027.
Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN’s news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.