'Grand Theft Auto VI' release set to cost US economy staggering amount as gamers plan PTO days
The "Grand Theft Auto VI" saga has taken a ton of twists and turns in the past year.
From delays to leaks and even the "digital release" controversy, GTA VI has been in the news cycle for so long that it's hard to believe this will all be coming to an end next month.
On November 19, the world will finally get to experience a video game that has been over a decade in the making.
A GTA VI website and PlayStation DualSense controller are displayed on a screen in this illustration photo taken in Krakow, Poland, on July 1, 2026. (NurPhoto via Getty Images)
In what could be one of the most anticipated video games of all-time, "Grand Theft Auto VI's" release date will likely be a seismic event in terms of the national economy.
That's not me being hyperbolic, either, as experts are predicting the economy of the United States to take a $1 billion hit the day GTA drops.
It turns out so many people have already lined up their sick days for November 19 and 20 that it's making national news.
Sorry for anyone doing so that I just outed with this article, but that is insane.
I can't remember a game causing this much of a stir.
Even hotly anticipated releases like "Halo" and "Call of Duty" weren't decimating the workforce the way GTA is doing.
A window display advertises Grand Theft Auto IV April 28, 2008 in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
And remember, we are still a month away from the game actually coming out.
This is just the fallout from the planners getting their ducks in a row. Can you imagine how many people will call in sick the day of the release?
"Grand Theft Auto VI" is generating so much excitement that the franchise's developers, Rockstar, are turning the city of Miami into a giant billboard for the game.
For those who don't know, GTA VI is set in the fictional Vice City, which is a parody of real-life South Florida.
The Miami Heat will wear special jerseys and a unique court for a game against the Milwaukee Bucks the night before the release of "Grand Theft Auto VI." (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images and Stanislav Kogiku/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Whether the game is good or not remains to be seen, and the long wait could always create a case of Rockstar never being able to live up to the lofty expectations they created with the development time.
One thing is for sure, though, for about 24 hours in late November, the world will come to a screeching halt thanks to a video game.
If you have friends or loved ones who are even remotely interested in gaming, don't expect to hear from them during this time period.
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