Grand Theft Auto VI launch set to spark Australian absenteeism and economic ripple effects
CNBC reported that Take-Two Interactive’s Rockstar Games expects the November 19, 2026 release of Grand Theft Auto VI to generate record sales and to boost gaming, streaming and the broader economy, with spill-over effects for content creators, food-delivery firms and tourism. Earlier reports indicated that Australian firms anticipate a notable rise in employee absences on the launch day, with some estimating a cost of about $70 million to the economy (The Age). The National Broadband Network prepared for higher traffic from pre-downloads (Information Age | ACS).
Data cited by the Fair Work Ombudsman showed an 84 % jump in leave requests among men aged 18-44, prompting the agency to urge early submissions (The West Australian). Meanwhile, companies such as Pocketpair announced they would give staff time off on the launch day to play the game (New York Post).
