Spanish economist José García Montalvo told radio station Cadena SER that GTA 6's launch could cost the US economy about 2% of a day's output, roughly $1 billion, with around 1.5 million Americans potentially calling in sick. His math assumes an average worker contributes about $70,000 a year to the economy, and he suggested men aged 18 to 30 and the tech sector would be hit hardest.
The numbers are an unverified scenario rather than a forecast: Montalvo did not say how many people would actually take the day off, and coverage elsewhere has noted that no published study supports the 1.5 million figure. Lost productivity and the game's sales revenue are also different measures and shouldn't be compared directly.
Why it matters: It is not hard data, but the story shows how far GTA 6's launch, set for Thursday, November 19, has moved beyond gaming into mainstream cultural and economic conversation, which is what keeps pre-order and marketing momentum high.