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The upcoming release of GTA 6 is expected to significantly disrupt the United States labor market. Projections suggest that many individuals may prioritize the game over their professional responsibilities, leading to widespread absenteeism upon its arrival.
José García Montalvo, a professor of Economics at Pompeu Fabra University, estimates that 1.5 million American workers might skip work. This behavior could result in a 1,000 million dollar loss in national production within a single day, representing a short-term productivity decline of approximately 2 percent.
The demographic most likely to be absent includes men aged 18 to 30. Furthermore, the game is expected to dominate workplace conversations throughout the launch week. These potential losses contrast with the financial goals of Take-Two Interactive, which anticipates exceeding 1,000 million dollars in operating cash flow this fiscal year.
While Rockstar North is based in Edinburgh, the game will be available on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. The actual economic impact remains to be seen, though high sales expectations suggest a massive player influx in less than a month.
