GTA 6 Might Give America A Very Expensive Sick Day
Grand Theft Auto 6’s November 19 launch is projected to have a significant economic impact on the United States. According to economics professor José García Montalvo, approximately 1.5 million American workers are expected to call in sick to play Rockstar Games’ upcoming heist title, costing the national economy an estimated $1 billion in lost productivity.
Montalvo’s calculation assumes an average annual salary of $70,000 per worker, with the aggregate lost output totaling roughly $1 billion—a figure that notably matches Take-Two Interactive’s estimated revenue from the game’s release day. The projection highlights the massive cultural appeal of the franchise and the economic stakes surrounding major entertainment releases.
The anticipated sick day surge underscores GTA 6’s status as one of the most anticipated gaming releases, with demand for the title already translating into measurable macroeconomic predictions. The comparison between productivity losses and the publisher’s single-day revenue illustrates the scale of the launch’s commercial impact and suggests the game’s release will be a notable economic event.