Economist Explains Why 'GTA VI' Could Drive Launch-Day Absences
José García Montalvo discussed potential workplace disruption in his original Cadena SER interview; the viral 1.5 million figure remains unverified.
Summary
Economist José García Montalvo discussed potential GTA VI launch-day absences with Cadena SER.
The circulating 1.5 million figure remains unverified.
Rockstar Games lists the launch date as November 19, 2026.
Grand Theft Auto VI could disrupt workplaces when it launches, according to economist José García Montalvo’s comments in a July 2025 interview with Cadena SER.
The Pompeu Fabra University professor identified young men and technology workers as particularly likely to stay home, noting that remote work can make it easier to spend time gaming.
The widely circulated claim that 1.5 million Americans will take release day off remains unverified. Cadena SER’s written report does not establish that number as Montalvo’s estimate or link to a study supporting it. It should not be read as a confirmed count of workers who have booked leave.
Rockstar Games currently lists November 19, 2026 as the release date for Grand Theft Auto VI. Set in the fictional state of Leonida, the game follows Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos through a criminal conspiracy that takes them across Vice City and beyond.
