Devoted gamers set for mass sick-out on GTA VI launch day

About 18% of US workers plan to take 19 November off for the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI, with half of them expecting to call in sick rather than request leave. The scale of the planned absence highlights the game’s reach beyond entertainment, with analysts warning that missed work could cost the US economy around $1 billion in lost productivity.

The game, set in a revamped Vice City, follows nearly 13 years of development and has reportedly sold more than 12 million copies worldwide in pre-orders, generating over $1 billion. One analyst predicts it could make at least $3 billion in its first weeks, while the UK and Canada have also seen a rise in leave requests. A 212GB download has already strained some UK broadband networks, and US providers are offering temporary speed boosts ahead of launch.