Australia's workplace regulator, The Fair Work Ombudsman, has issued guidance for employees considering taking time off for the release of Grand Theft Auto VI. The agency published a graphic illustrating various leave scenarios, using the upcoming November launch of GTA 6 as a hypothetical example.
The graphic prompts users to consider situations like "Let’s pretend GTA 6 is coming out tomorrow, but you don’t have any paid leave available to play on launch day." It then explores whether unpaid leave is an option under the National Employment Standards, which grant Australians the right to unpaid leave under specific, typically emergency-related or caregiving circumstances.
The humorous illustrations within the graphic depict scenarios like a loved one in a hospital bed, but with a copy of GTA 6 in place of a head, and a GTA 6 game case appearing on an ultrasound display in the section about having a child. These tongue-in-cheek visuals underscore the immense global anticipation for the title.
The release of GTA 6 is expected to be a major cultural and economic event. Previous coverage of the game has seen significant demand, with one instance causing a publication's app to crash. Analysts predict the game could generate up to $5.2 billion in sales during its launch week alone. Rockstar Games reportedly invested between $1 billion and $1.5 billion in the game's development, with significant marketing efforts underway, including light displays on Miami's Kaseya Center and special Vice City-themed jerseys for the Miami Heat NBA team. CBS has also produced a video examining the accuracy of GTA 6's Vice City environment, drawing on expert analysis of its iconic locations.