Millions of US Gamers Plan to Take Time Off for GTA 6 Launch

Millions of players across the United States are preparing to step away from their desks and classrooms when Grand Theft Auto 6 launches on November 19. An estimated 12.5 million adult gamers plan to take paid time off or rearrange their daily routines to explore Leonida on day one.

According to survey data collected by YouGov across more than 2,000 adults, approximately 8% of US adult gamers intend to take time off work or adjust educational commitments for the release. The breakdown of scheduled downtime varies by commitment: 3% of surveyed gamers plan to take two or more full days off, another 3% plan to take a single full day, and 2% intend to take a half-day or shift their working hours. An additional 14% plan to fit the game into their normal day-to-day schedules, while 4% plan to clear their upcoming weekends entirely.

Generational trends heavily shape who plans to clear their calendars. Gen Z leads the pack, with 13% of younger gamers planning to take time off or adjust schedules. Male players were also slightly more likely to alter work or school hours than female players, at 9% compared to 7%. The exclusivity of GTA 6 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S is also driving hardware adoption, with 7% of adults reporting plans to upgrade their console hardware specifically for the game or similar tentpole releases.

The widespread plans to step away from work have raised discussions around economic productivity, with some external estimates suggesting launch-week sick days and absenteeism could create up to a $1 billion dent in US work output. A handful of organizations have attempted to get ahead of the wave by leaning into the launch, such as gaming peripheral maker Logitech offering a dedicated paid day off for its global workforce. Despite the historic anticipation surrounding Vice City's return, the franchise remains distinct from casual entertainment habits: 68% of surveyed US adults noted they have no intention of playing GTA 6 upon release.

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