GTA 6 Could Cost US Economy $1 Billion in Sick Days, Economist Says

Ever thought about calling in sick just to play a video game? You're not alone. With GTA 6 finally launching on November 19, one economist is predicting a massive wave of "sick days" that could cost the US economy a cool $1 billion.

The projection comes from an economics professor at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, as reported by the International Business Times. He estimates that around 1.5 million workers will take the day off to dive into Rockstar's long-awaited opus. And honestly, after waiting 13 years since GTA 5, who can blame them? Work can wait; Los Santos can't.

So where does that $1 billion figure come from? The math is pretty straightforward: the average US worker produces about $70,000 in yearly output, so 1.5 million absences translates to a short-term productivity dip of roughly 2%. The professor also reckons that men aged 18 to 30 will make up the majority of those calling in sick, with the tech sector hit hardest. That's no surprise, since it mirrors the demographic that skipped work for GTA 5 back in 2013.

And it's not just the absentees who'll be affected. Even those who show up might be less productive, thanks to late-night gaming sessions and the irresistible urge to chat about GTA 6 with coworkers. Basically, expect a lot of glazed-over eyes and watercooler hype.

But before you worry about the economy collapsing, take a breath. The report notes that any lost productivity will likely be offset by the massive revenue Take-Two and Rockstar will rake in from GTA 6 sales. So the money isn't gone—it's just shifting from offices to game stores. Plus, this is just an academic projection, not an official forecast. It's more of a fun thought experiment than a doomsday scenario.

Still, some companies are already bracing for impact. We've seen a few businesses announce they'll shut down on launch day because they know their employees will call in sick anyway. It's a wild time to be a gamer—and apparently, a tricky time to be a manager.

So, will you be one of the 1.5 million calling in sick on November 19? Or are you planning to power through and play after hours? Let us know in the comments!