GTA 6 Launch Drives Time-off Surge as Review Date Emerges

WHO:

IGN - Rockstar Games is developing Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6).

IGN - BambooHR is an HR software company whose data showed increased time-off requests.

IGN - Money.com reported BambooHR’s findings.

IGN - The Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks are scheduled to play a GTA 6-themed NBA game.

Insider Gaming - NateTheHate revealed the review date; Insider Gaming said it independently verified the reports.

Insider Gaming - Andrew Highton is identified as Insider Gaming’s Senior Evergreen Editor.

WHAT:

IGN - BambooHR data showed time-off requests for November 19 were 9% to 17% higher than normal requests for the third Thursday in November.

IGN - Economists estimated GTA 6’s release could cause a $1 billion loss in U.S. productivity.

IGN - Rockstar spent $975,000 to install a large neon-pink sign atop the Miami Heat’s arena and promoted the game with in-universe brand ads, traditional banners featuring key art, and a Miami version of the fictional Burger Shot.

IGN - The Miami Heat are set to become the “Vice City Heat” for a game against the Milwaukee Bucks, using GTA 6-themed jerseys and a Vice City court.

IGN - GTA 6 is set to launch for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S; a PC port is rumored for early 2027.

Insider Gaming - GTA 6 reviews are confirmed to go live on November 18, the day before the stated November 19 launch.

Insider Gaming - The article says Rockstar began distributing review codes to media outlets and reports that review copies allegedly went out at the end of October 2026, providing recipients a three-to-four-week review period.

Insider Gaming - The article’s Metacritic table lists scores and review counts: GTA 2, 70 (15, PlayStation); GTA 3, 97 (56, PlayStation 2); Vice City, 95 (62, PlayStation 2); San Andreas, 95 (80, PlayStation 2); GTA Advance, 68 (33, Game Boy Advance); Liberty City Stories, 88 (65, PlayStation Portable); Vice City Stories, 86 (50, PlayStation Portable); GTA 4, 98 (86, Xbox 360); The Lost and Damned, 90 (79, Xbox 360); The Ballad of Gay Tony, 89 (67, Xbox 360); Chinatown Wars, 93 (85, Nintendo DS); and GTA 5, 97 (66, PlayStation 4). The first GTA and both London titles are listed without scores or review counts.

WHERE:

IGN - The marketing sign is atop the Miami Heat’s arena; the article also says Miami residents can visit a real-life version of Burger Shot.

IGN - The estimated productivity loss is in the United States.

WHEN:

WHAT:

IGN - The themed Miami Heat–Milwaukee Bucks game is scheduled for November 18.

IGN - GTA 6 is scheduled to launch on November 19.

Insider Gaming - GTA 6 reviews are scheduled to go live on November 18, one day before launch.

(UPDATED October 27, 2026 01:32 UTC)

Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto 6 is set to launch for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on November 19, with reviews scheduled to go live the day before. BambooHR data showed time-off requests for November 19 were 9% to 17% above normal, while economists estimated the game’s release could cost the United States $1 billion in lost productivity. Rockstar is also promoting the game across Miami, including a neon-pink sign atop the Heat’s arena, and the team will become the “Vice City Heat” for a GTA-themed game against the Milwaukee Bucks on November 18.