Economist José García Montalvo estimates that 1.5 million Americans might miss work on November 19 due to the release of Grand Theft Auto 6. This potential absence could result in a loss of $1 billion in economic output for a single day. The projection specifically identifies technology workers and men between 18 and 30 as the primary groups likely to skip work.
Take-Two Interactive, the publisher of the game, forecasts operating cash flow exceeding $1 billion for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2027. This follows an operating cash flow of $624 million reported for fiscal 2026. The company also projects net bookings, representing total sales of games and services, to reach between $8 billion and $8.2 billion.
Despite the anticipation surrounding the game, Take-Two shares have faced downward pressure. As of Wednesday, the stock traded near $206.70, reflecting a year-to-date decline of 19.79%. The share price has dropped approximately 20% leading up to the launch, with a 12.5% decrease over the last three months and a 21.17% decline over the past year.
Operational impacts are already visible, as California-based auto parts firm Burger Motorsports announced a company-wide pause for November 19. While Take-Two reported a strong start for GTA 6 pre-orders in August, the company has not disclosed specific sales figures. The stock price reached a peak in July before experiencing a significant decline in early September.
