Nov. 19 is shaping up to be an unofficial holiday for millions of gamers. One of the most popular video game franchises in history, Grand Theft Auto, is getting a sixth installment.
It’s been more than a decade in the making, and the hype is real. In addition to preordering more than 5.2 million copies of GTA 6, many gamers are requesting off work in droves. According to data BambooHR shared with Money, vacation requests for Nov. 19 are noticeably higher than normal.
The HR software company found that time off requests for Nov. 19 this year are 9% to 17% above the typical third Thursday of November. And we’re still 10 weeks out.
It’s difficult to say with certainty that the highly anticipated video game is the sole reason behind the uptick in time off requests. A BambooHR spokesperson said that while the trend is striking, it could also reflect a larger cultural push toward using time off more freely.
Anecdotally, GTA 6 is playing a clear role.
“I know some people that are going to take weeks off,” one user wrote on X, “and I’m one of them.”
On Reddit, another person posted in July that when he asked for Nov. 19-20 off, his manager automatically assumed it was for GTA 6. The manager not only approved the request but decided to take those days off, as well.
Some employers are leaning into the excitement. In California, a popular motorsports shop sent out a memo saying that it decided to close on Nov. 19 due to the amount of time off requests it received.
“After reviewing multiple employee scheduling conflicts, management has determined that normal business operations may be impacted due to the release of Grand Theft Auto VI,” the company said in a notice posted on social media. “We appreciate your patience and understanding during this unprecedented cultural event.”
Video game developer Rockstar Games released the first Grand Theft Auto game in 1997. According to Take-Two, the parent company of Rockstar, the series has sold nearly 475 million copies.
Recent GTA entries have gained critical acclaim for their gritty storytelling, immersive worldbuilding and a do-anything-you-want style of gameplay. GTA 6 is set to take place in the criminal underworld of Leonida, a satirical remaking of Florida, with nods to real-world locales including Miami, Tampa and Key West.
As the release date closes in, time off requests could get much higher. The trend is expected to be so widespread that some folks are predicting big productivity losses. The Wall Street Journal recently warned of a “work blackout” due to the game.
Those who show up to work on Nov. 20, the day after GTA 6’s release, may not be on their A game. A separate analysis from the gaming site Win.gg found that when people stay up late playing games, they report losing two hours of productivity on average the following day. Nationwide, that sluggishness could translate into a $5 billion loss.
Other widespread cultural events have led to similar analyses that track widespread loss of productivity.
Take the Super Bowl, for example. For years, workforce data firm UKG has tracked the so-called “Super Bowl Fever” on the Monday after the big game. Earlier this year, the firm estimated that 22.6 million people called out of work, equating to $5.2 billion of lost productivity.
Such an impact from a single video game is uncharted territory. And it looks like GTA 6 is about to have its Super Bowl moment.
