GTA 6 Causes 17% Spike in Time Off Requests on Game’s Release Date
The release of Grand Theft Auto 6 on November 19, 2025, triggered a significant spike in workplace time-off requests, according to data from HR software company BambooHR. Analysis of the company’s employee records revealed a 9% to 17% increase in time-off requests for that date compared to typical third Thursdays in November, suggesting millions of workers prioritized playing the highly anticipated game over their work commitments.
The unprecedented demand for time off has drawn attention from economists, who estimate that GTA 6’s release will result in approximately $1 billion in lost productivity across the United States. While the data doesn’t definitively attribute every request to gaming, the dramatic spike on the release date strongly indicates that the majority of additional requests were driven by players eager to experience the game’s launch.
The trend underscores the substantial cultural and economic impact of major game releases, particularly for a franchise as iconic and anticipated as Grand Theft Auto. GTA 6’s release has become a notable case study in how major entertainment events can influence workplace behavior and measurable productivity metrics across the broader economy.