Approximately 1.5 million Americans are expected to take off work for the release of Grand Theft Auto 6 on November 19, leading to a projected loss of up to $1 billion in U.S. productivity, according to analysts and a report from the International Business Times.
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Analyst José García Montalvo provided this projection, emphasizing that it is based on academic estimates rather than an official forecast. The analysis suggests that a short-term productivity decline of about 2% could occur, as many of those taking off are men aged 18 to 30, with the technology sector anticipated to be the most affected.
The estimated productivity dip aligns closely with Take-Two Interactive's projected earnings from the game’s release. The Wall Street Journal noted that some companies might implement strategies to accommodate for this expected absenteeism, with certain businesses considering integrating the release date into their year-end incentive packages.