Grand Theft Auto 6 release could cost billions in sick leave

Published 15h ago · Latest report 2h ago

Affects United States · Covered in 2 countries

AI summary35s readNeutral

Grand Theft Auto 6 release could cost US firms over $1 billion as millions plan sick days.

The upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto 6 is projected to cost American businesses over $1 billion in lost productivity. An estimated 1.5 million workers plan to take a sick day on launch day to play the game. While Rockstar Games stands to gain hundreds of millions, ordinary firms face a massive wave of absenteeism.

The calculationEconomics professor Jose Garcia Montalvo derived the figure from workplace absence estimates.
The impactBusinesses across the country face widespread staffing shortages as employees stay home to play.

Why it matters

Major entertainment releases often cause spikes in workplace absenteeism, but the economic scale projected for this specific launch highlights how video games have grown into massive cultural and commercial forces.

By the numbers2

1.5Mworkers calling out sick

$1Bcost from lost productivity

How outlets cover it

What outlets agree on

The upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto 6 will cause around 1.5 million American workers to take a sick day, resulting in over $1 billion in economic losses for businesses.

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