GTA 6 Launch Could Cost the US Economy $1 Billion, Economist Says
An economist estimates 1.5 million US workers could call in sick at the GTA 6 launch, costing about $1 billion. It is not an official forecast.
Image: © Rockstar Games
The GTA 6 launch could cost the US economy around $1 billion, an economist says, according to GamesRadar+, which cites the International Business Times. The estimate assumes 1.5 million workers will be absent on launch day, November 19.
This is an academic projection, not an official forecast. Its author teaches economics at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, GamesRadar+ notes.
The math behind the billion
The reasoning is simple, per GamesRadar+: the average US worker produces $70,000 a year. Multiply that by the 1.5 million expected absences and the economist gets a short-term productivity dip of around 2%.
Players have waited 13 years for GTA 6, GamesRadar+ recalls, and the economist’s view is that plenty would rather dive in than work.
Who would be hit
Also per GamesRadar+, men aged 18 to 30 would make up most of the absences, and the technology sector would be hit hardest. That profile resembles the people who took time off to play GTA V.
The impact would not stop with the absentees: those who do show up could perform worse, with game talk and late nights of play dragging on focus, the economist argues.
What we don't know yet
The report itself concedes the loss would be offset by what Take-Two and Rockstar earn from the game, GamesRadar+ points out. Several companies have also announced they will close on launch day because staff would likely call in sick anyway. Follow what comes next in our GTA 6 news and on GTA 6 Universe on X.