Survey: Thousands to call in ‘sick’ on GTA VI launch day
October 20, 2026



With millions of UK workers expected to play Grand Theft Auto VI when it launches on November 19th, research reveals the potential impact the highly anticipated game could have on the working day.

Uswitch broadband comparison experts surveyed 1,000 UK workers who play video games to explore how employees plan to make time for the release, and the potential impact on productivity and workplace distractions. The study found that more than half (54 per cent) of GTA VI players plan to make changes to their working schedules on release day.


Three in 10 (30 per cent) players who work from home say they may use some of their working time to play when the game is released. Almost one in 10 (9 per cent) say they may take sick leave even if they aren’t unwell, while 17 per cent would consider taking annual leave and 14 per cent may take unpaid leave. The findings suggest GTA VI could blur the boundaries between work and play for some employees, particularly those working from home.

The annual and sick leave plans could add up to an estimated 2.56 million UK workers taking time off to play GTA VI on November 19th, including almost 1.68 million taking annual leave and a further 887,515 taking sick leave despite not being unwell.

Based on an eight-hour working day, this equates to 20,511,464 working hours potentially missed across annual and ‘sick’ leave. Using the UK full-time median hourly pay of £19.67 as a proxy for the economic value of those working hours, this represents approximately £403.5 million worth of working time, with £263.8 million associated with annual leave and £139.7 million with potential ‘sick’ leave.

For some players, the impact of the release could extend well beyond time off, with around one in five (21 per cent) expecting to be more tired at work after playing GTA VI, while the same proportion expect to be distracted[1].

More than a quarter (26 per cent) also expect to spend time discussing the game with colleagues, while 17 per cent may change their working hours to make time to play. A further 16 per cent expect to be less productive, suggesting GTA VI could affect the working day even among those who don’t take time off.

Uswitch broadband expert Max Beckett commented: “GTA VI is one of the biggest gaming releases in years, so for players planning to take time off, the last thing you want is to lose precious gaming time to a slow download, connection problems, or a console that needs updating. Checking your broadband speed, clearing enough storage, and making sure your console and games are fully updated ahead of launch can all help you get straight into the action on release day”.