GTA VI launch could cost Israeli economy up to NIS 170 million in lost productivity

ByTZALLY GREENBERGNOVEMBER 15, 2026 12:45Updated: NOVEMBER 15, 2026 14:22

An estimated $1 billion in lost productivity for the US economy, approximately half a billion dollars in losses for the UK, and a projected NIS 75 million to NIS 170 million hit to Israel's daily economic output: These are the estimated economic costs of the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6), scheduled for Thursday, November 19.

Human resources platforms, including US-based BambooHR and British company BrightHR, which monitor millions of employees across tens of thousands of businesses in real time, identified an unusually sharp increase of tens of percent in approved vacation requests for November 19 compared with the previous year.

Prof. Jose García Montalvo, an economist at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, estimated in late October that approximately 1.5 million American workers, representing about 1% of the US workforce, are expected to miss work on Thursday because of the game's launch.

Based on an average annual output of about $70,000 per US worker, Montalvo estimated the absences would cause a 2% decline in labor productivity, costing the US economy about $1 billion in a single day.

A consumer and employment survey by British price comparison company Uswitch estimated that 2.56 million workers would miss work on the game's release date, costing the British economy an estimated £403.5 million, equivalent to about half a billion dollars.

Montalvo noted that most of those expected to miss work would be men aged 18 to 30, with the technology sector likely to suffer the greatest impact. According to the BambooHR survey, Gen Z employees are expected to account for approximately 32% of those taking vacation days for the launch, followed by millennials aged 30 to 45, at 27%.

What impact could GTA 6 have on Israel's economy?

Although there is no official estimate of the game's potential impact on employment in Israel, combining Israeli labor market data with cultural factors makes it possible to estimate the scale of the phenomenon.

Approximately 4.45 million people are employed in Israel, with an average gross daily wage of about NIS 675 per salaried position. The game's Thursday launch falls at the end of the Israeli workweek, unlike in Europe and the US. Taking a single vacation or sick day would therefore allow Israeli employees to enjoy three consecutive days of gaming, from Thursday through Saturday.

The projection model for the Israeli economy estimates that between 42,000 and 95,000 Israeli workers will miss work on Thursday, representing approximately 1% to 2.1% of the workforce. The resulting loss of economic output is estimated at NIS 75 million to NIS 170 million for the day.

Unlike in other countries, absenteeism in Israel's civilian labor market is expected to be concentrated among recently discharged soldiers, students, and employees aged 22 to 35, particularly in the high-tech and business services sector.

The sector employs approximately 400,000 workers, many of whom benefit from flexible working arrangements, accrued vacation days, and opportunities to work remotely.

Employers have already begun preparing for a potential wave of sudden sick days, with some choosing to embrace the situation.

Swiss-American gaming and computer equipment giant Logitech, for example, announced in the middle of last week that it would grant all 7,000 of its employees worldwide a planned paid day off to mark the launch of GTA 6, branding the initiative Logi Game Day.

Ratings company Worldworthy also announced that it would allow employees to take up to three paid days off for the launch, based on the understanding that employees who take approved leave will return to work more committed than those who attempt to play the game secretly while working from home.

Development and marketing costs for the sixth installment in the Grand Theft Auto series have reportedly exceeded $2 billion. The franchise is considered one of the most profitable entertainment brands in history.

Its predecessor, Grand Theft Auto V (GTA 5), sold more than 200 million copies and generated approximately $8.5 billion for its developer, Rockstar Games, a figure that would make it the most profitable entertainment product of all time.

Widespread employee absenteeism surrounding the launch of the previous installment was among the factors that prompted employers to prepare in advance for the latest release.

Ahead of the launch of GTA 5 in 2013, a survey conducted by gaming website IGN found that 46% of respondents said they had arranged to take the day off, while approximately 20% admitted they intended to call in sick on the morning of the game's release.

For human resources managers in Israel and around the world, Thursday will be a test of their ability to manage the growing impact of gaming culture on the labor market.

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