IGN says 17%. The HR firm behind the number has a newer, smaller figure, and a survey that says the real wave comes on the morning itself.
The short version
HR software company BambooHR says US requests for paid time off on 19 November 2026, the GTA 6 launch day, are running about 13% above the same Thursday in 2024 and 2025. In its survey, 18% of salaried workers plan to take the day off, and half of gamers taking time off plan to call in sick.
Quick answer
Are people taking time off work for GTA 6?
Yes, in the US at least. HR software company BambooHR says requests for paid time off on 19 November 2026, the day GTA 6 launches, are running about 13% above the same Thursday in 2024 and 2025. That comes from anonymised records for more than 3.4 million US employees.
Plenty of US workers already have 19 November booked off. BambooHR's survey suggests many more will simply call in sick that morning.
How many people are taking GTA 6 launch day off?
About 13% more US workers have booked 19 November off than booked the same Thursday in past years. BambooHR's report, published on 22 October, also found smaller rises for the days after.
| Day | PTO request rate against past years |
|---|---|
| Thursday 19 November (launch) | About 13% higher |
| Friday 20 November | Almost 11% higher |
| Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November | Nearly 9% higher each |
BambooHR's survey of 1,530 full time US workers found 18% plan to take launch day off. That rises to 32% of Gen Z workers and 27% of Millennials.
Why does IGN say 17%?
IGN's figure is older. Money reported in September that BambooHR saw requests running 9% to 17% above normal, ten weeks before launch. IGN repeated the top of that range on 26 October, after BambooHR had narrowed it to about 13%.
Will GTA 6 fans call in sick instead?
Half of them say so. BambooHR found 50% of people taking time off for a game release plan to call in sick rather than book leave, and 38% of workers say a sick call is easier.
The data has limits. PTO requests are up about 2% to 4% across 2026 in general, and BambooHR told Money it cannot prove GTA 6 is the cause. Rockstar Games has said nothing about it.
If you are in the UK, our UK release time guide shows when you can start playing. Reviews may land the day before, according to the review code rumour.
Frequently asked questions
Are people taking time off work for GTA 6?
Some US workers appear to be. BambooHR says PTO requests for 19 November 2026 are about 13% higher than the same Thursday in 2024 and 2025, and 18% of salaried workers it surveyed plan to take launch day off.
Where does the 17% GTA 6 time off figure come from?
It is the top of an early range of 9% to 17% that BambooHR shared with Money in September, ten weeks before launch. IGN repeated it on 26 October. BambooHR's full report from 22 October puts the figure at about 13%.
Is the rise in time off definitely because of GTA 6?
No. BambooHR says PTO requests across 2026 are up about 2% to 4% overall, and a spokesperson told Money the GTA link cannot be proved for certain. The launch day rise is still bigger than on other 2026 dates.
Does the BambooHR data cover the UK?
No. The platform data covers more than 3.4 million US employees and the survey covers 1,530 US full time workers.
Sources
- BambooHR, Gamer's Day Off: PTO Requests Spike for Grand Theft Auto VI Release (22 Oct 2026)
- Money, GTA 6 Release Date Leads to Wave of Worker Vacation Requests (14 Sep 2026)
- IGN, GTA 6 time off requests report (26 Oct 2026)
- Rockstar Games: Grand Theft Auto VI
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