Report: GTA 6 Launch Could Cost US $1B in Lost Productivity

GTA 6's November 19 launch is expected to be massive, and streamers should plan their coverage now. Here is what to consider for launch week.

The productivity conversation

Some analysts have discussed potential workplace impacts from the launch, with projections about employees taking time off or being distracted during launch week. The scale of these projections shows how big this launch is expected to be.

Where the money goes

CEO Strauss Zelnick told shareholders the company expects more than $1 billion in operating cash flow this fiscal year, with GTA 6 the main driver.

Money spent on the game flows to Take-Two and Rockstar Games. Rockstar North, the lead studio behind the game, is based in Edinburgh.

What streamers should consider

1. Launch week will be huge. Market research firm Newzoo estimates GTA 6 could sell at least 37 million copies in its opening week, with global first-week retail bookings running as high as $4.5 billion. Newzoo also pegged the opening pre-order week alone at around $260 million globally.

2. Your audience will be there. Millions of people will be watching streams. Plan your coverage for the week, not just launch day.

3. Plan your own time. If you are taking time off to play, decide now. If you are streaming, block out your schedule and tell your audience when you will be live. See GTA 6 Launch Week: Should You Take Time Off? for a breakdown.

4. Clip as you go. Launch week is when your clips will get the most eyes. Record your best moments and turn them into Shorts the same day. See GTA 6 Launch Week Content Schedule: Plan Your Clips Now.

5. Expect competition. Millions of players means millions of clips. Your commentary, your reactions, and your unique moments are what will make yours stand out.

Quick checklist

• Decide if you are taking time off or streaming launch week.
• Block out your streaming schedule for November 19 to 24.
• Set up your PS5 or Xbox capture settings now. See How to Record and Clip GTA 6 on PS5 or How to Record and Clip GTA 6 on Xbox Series X|S.
• Plan your first three clips: what you will record, how long they will be, and when you will post them.
• Tell your audience when you will be live and what to expect.

Clips from launch week

When you cut clips in ViceForge, you can upload your PS5 or Xbox recordings and pick the GTA game profile in AI Gaming mode. The AI finds action, kills, chases, crashes, and big reactions, and you choose the clip length and format before downloading.

Sources

• Insider Gaming: GTA 6 Could Cost American Economy $1 Billion, Says Analyst