GTA VI’s $1 billion ‘cost’? More like a game of hot potato
The real cost of GTA VI isn’t the game—it’s the excuses people make to play it.
The story
A $1 billion productivity loss from GTA VI's release is unlikely, with economists arguing it's just a shift in work schedules rather than a real economic hit.
Source: fortune.com
Our reading
The $1 billion productivity loss estimate for GTA VI is based on a non-peer-reviewed claim from an economist who didn’t respond to requests for comment. It’s the kind of number that gets shared on social media like a viral meme—except instead of a cat, it’s a video game. The real joke is that people are taking time off to play it, but economists say it’s just a shift in when they work, not a real hit to the economy. Which is fine, but it’s still weird that a game can be blamed for a billion-dollar hit. It’s like blaming a sandwich for your hunger.
