Gamers Plan Leave for GTA VI Release
American gamers are planning extended paid leave around the November 19, 2026 release of Grand Theft Auto VI, with some preparing meals in advance and even military personnel taking advantage of special leave offers to play the game. The game's release has sparked widespread anticipation, with reports of a 'work blackout' and unprecedented interest.
Consensus
- Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled to be released on November 19, 2026.
- The game will be available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
- American gamers are planning to take paid leave around the release date.
- The release has generated significant anticipation, described as an unofficial holiday by fans.
- Some employers, including the U.S. military, are offering special leave for the game's release.
- The game's release has been delayed twice, with Rockstar Games citing the need for higher quality.
- The game is set in the fictional state of Leonida and the familiar city of Vice City.
- The main protagonists are Lucia and Jason.
- Pre-orders for GTA VI opened in the summer.
- The game is expected to set new sales records.
Points of divergence
- A two-week vacation is optimal for comfortable gameplay, allowing about 5.5–6 hours of play per day, based on an estimated 80-hour playtime. — riamo
- A 19-day period allows for about 3.5–4.5 hours of daily gameplay, leaving more time for exploration and side activities. — riamo
- Pre-download for digital versions begins November 12, one week before release. — riamo
- Clinical psychologist Elena Pakhomova warns that returning to real life after prolonged gaming may cause feelings of emptiness. — riamo
- One U.S. government employee took a long-term vacation, and a medical equipment company employee prepared food in advance for a week-long break. — kommersant
- The Pentagon provided a four-day leave to soldiers in an engineering-sapper battalion after contract renewal, with 44 out of 130 soldiers taking advantage by November 14. — kommersant
- A 36-year-old software engineer took five weekend days before Thanksgiving specifically for GTA VI. — fontanka
- The U.S. Army's 9th Engineer Sapper Battalion offered a four-day leave for soldiers who renewed contracts between August 1 and November 14. — fontanka
- The U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Division in Fort Stewart offered four days of leave to soldiers who renewed contracts for two to six years. — vm
- The game's previous installment, GTA V, sold over 185 million copies, making it the second-highest-selling game in history. — vm
- 44 out of 130 military personnel had renewed contracts by August 19 due to the leave offer. — tg_tass_agency
Coverage (6 sources)
- We will postpone the matter for later: how many vacation days are needed to play through GTA VI — РИАМО
- American gamers are massing for vacations as GTA VI releases — Коммерсантъ
- WSJ: Americans are taking vacation days and time off for the release of video game GTA VI — РИАМО
- You do not have to wait for work. GTA VI fans are saving up for vacation at the game's release — Фонтанка
- Work blackout: Americans plan their vacations around the release of video game GTA VI — Вечерняя Москва
- Americans plan vacations around the release of GTA VI game, reports The Wall Street Journal. According to the publication, managers... — ТАСС (Telegram)