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An academic projection suggests that approximately 1.5 million Americans intend to miss work on 19 November to play Grand Theft Auto 6. José García Montalvo, an economics professor at Pompeu Fabra University, estimates this mass absence could result in a $1 billion reduction in US economic output for that single day.

The calculation relies on an average annual worker output of $70,000, leading to a projected 2% short-term productivity decline. Montalvo notes that men aged 18 to 30 are expected to account for the majority of these absences, with the technology sector potentially experiencing the most significant impact.

Beyond direct absences, workplace productivity may face additional strain from launch-week discussions and late-night gaming sessions. This behavior mirrors trends observed during the 2013 release of Grand Theft Auto 5, where some urban areas saw up to 6% of workers in the 18 to 35 age demographic take leave.

While the US economy may lose $1 billion in labor value, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick anticipates over $1 billion in operating cash flow for the fiscal year, largely driven by the game. This suggests the capital is shifting from employers to the publisher rather than vanishing from the economy entirely.

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