An analysis of paid time off (PTO) data by human resources software company BambooHR indicates a significant surge in employee absences across the US during the week of November 19, a trend that aligns with the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6. BambooHR, which serves over 30,000 companies, observed that PTO requests for the third Thursday of November this year are running between 9% and 17% above historical averages for the same period in previous years.
These figures were described by the company as consistent across all measurable checkpoints. The timing of Grand Theft Auto 6's release on a Thursday has led to speculation that the game is a primary driver for this increase in requested time off. While BambooHR cannot definitively attribute the rise solely to Grand Theft Auto 6, citing the possibility of other events or releases, the company stated that the data reveals a "real, reproducible signal."
The game is scheduled to launch on November 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. This launch day also coincides with the release of "GTA 6: The Album," a collection of 34 songs by various artists created for the game.
Grand Theft Auto 6 is estimated to require around 80 hours for a full playthrough, potentially encouraging players to take extended leave to fully experience the title.