They are not even hiding it anymore

Spanish economist José García Montalvo jokingly suggests that roughly 1.5 million American workers might plan to call out of work when GTA VI officially launches in November, 2026. The mass absence is projected to cost the U.S. economy close to a billion dollars in lost productivity, underscoring just how massive the anticipation is for one of the most highly awaited video game releases in recent memory.
Numbers like this illustrate the sheer scale of GTA's cultural footprint, extending well beyond gaming circles and into broader economic conversations.
For a franchise that has consistently shattered entertainment sales records with each release, this kind of projected impact isn't entirely surprising, but seeing it quantified in dollars and workforce numbers adds a new layer to just how significant the game's release has become. Whether the actual numbers match this prediction or not, it's clear that GTA VI's launch day is shaping up to be a cultural event unlike almost anything else in gaming.

Source: https://www.upsocl.com/en/a-5-year-old-boy-went-to-the-police-to-report-his-uncle-because-he-had-pushed-him-and-the-officers-discovered-that-the-accused-is-the-same-age/