Video game firms grant employees leave for Grand Theft Auto VI launch

Pocketpair announced that its employees will receive a five-day leave from Nov. 19-23 to play the newly released Grand Theft Auto VI, describing the period as an "urgent five-day business trip in Vice City." The company said staff will be exempt from work responsibilities so they can focus on the game launch.

Logitech also said it will give its 7,000 workers a day off on the launch date to play the game, citing a study that linked gaming to increased confidence, reduced anxiety, and improved work performance. CEO Hanneke Faber said, "> It’s time to retire the stereotype that gaming is a waste of time. As a company designing products for work and play, we see every day how engagement in one sphere supports performance in the other."

Automotive firms Burger Motorsports and Edison Motors reported similar leave policies for their staff. The 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion at Fort Stewart, Ga., is offering a four-day leave for soldiers to play the game, according to a report.

The International Business Times projected that up to 1.5 million Americans could skip work on Thursday, potentially costing the economy about $1 billion in productivity. Sensor Tower data showed Take-Two, the parent of Rockstar Games, has already recorded $1.2 billion in sales for the title.