GTA VI's release day on Thursday, November 19 could cost the US $301.5 million in lost wages, according to new research from online slots site Amazon Slots. That's the value of work not done because people are staying home to play.
What the study found
The study estimates 989,329 workers nationwide could miss work above the normal level on release day. It combined what gamers say they plan to do on launch day with the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data to price the lost time.
Two data points drive the estimate:
- Time off: According to BambooHR, time-off requests for release day are up to 17% higher than on a typical third Thursday in November. On a normal day, roughly 1.86% of employees have approved time off. Applied to the 162.7 million-person US workforce, that means 514,451 extra workers off, if all requests are approved.
- Sick days: A GameSquare survey found 36% of gamers plan to take a sick day, compared with 39% who plan to book time off. That ratio adds another 474,878 absences nationwide.
Georgia and the top states
In Georgia, the study projects 31,943 extra absences, costing the state $9.1 million in wages. That ranks Georgia 34th for the rate of projected absences, at 5.999 per 1,000 employed.
The states with the highest projected rates are:
- Utah: 6.715 absences per 1,000 employed, with 11,876 absent workers costing over $3 million
- North Dakota: 6.477 per 1,000, $701,000 in wages
- Idaho: 6.414 per 1,000, $1.4 million
- Texas: 6.356 per 1,000, $29.4 million
- Colorado: 6.353 per 1,000, over $6.2 million
Washington, Kentucky, Arkansas, Indiana and Arizona complete the top 10.
What it means for players
If you're planning to play at launch, the numbers suggest you're not alone. Many workers are already booking the day, so expect a huge wave of players logging in from the first hour.
The study's full methodology and the GameSquare survey sample size are not detailed in the coverage, so treat the dollar figures as estimates rather than hard totals.