GTA 6 fever hits the workplace: Maltese employees are already booking launch day off

The release of a video game may not ordinarily be something that finds its way onto the corporate calendar. Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6), however, appears to be a different story.

With Rockstar Games’ long-awaited title set for release on 19th November 2026, anticipation surrounding the game has extended well beyond gaming circles – and into workplaces.

I’m not a gamer myself, but even my feeds have been flooded with GTA 6 news, from excitement over its release to comparisons showing just how far the graphics have come since the last instalment. Speaking to a few fans of the franchise, I learnt that some are so excited they are planning to take a day of annual leave to play it – and no, waiting until the weekend isn’t an option. Fair enough, they have been waiting a long time for this one.

But it did get me wondering how common this is, and what do employers make of it? So, MaltaCEOs.mt spoke to two local business leaders to find out.

Speaking to MaltaCEOs.mt, Talexio CEO Mark Camilleri Gambin confirmed that the GTA 6 hype has made its presence felt among his own team – and that some employees have already booked the day off.

“Yes definitely, there has been a lot of hype,” he said, adding that he had followed the live Gamescom gameplay reveal himself.

While other gaming announcements may have caught more of his personal attention, Mr Camilleri Gambin described GTA 6 as looking “mindblowing”.

And when it comes to employees using their leave to experience the game as soon as it launches, the Talexio CEO sees little reason for employers to object.

“Yes, we have a couple of team members who booked the day off to be able to enjoy the excitement on launch day,” he said.

“Absolutely fair game. I would do the same if I could for some game that I am very excited about myself.”

“I manage to find time to do some gaming every day after my son is fast asleep,” he said. For him, however, gaming is also a way of keeping in touch with friends, highlighting the social element that increasingly accompanies the pastime.

Concept Stadium Founder and CEO Jonathan Dalli may not be a gamer himself, but he sees the enormous anticipation surrounding GTA 6 through the marketing and popular culture lens.

“Something like the anticipation surrounding GTA 6 is interesting even from a marketing perspective,” he told MaltaCEOs.mt.

“As marketers, creatives and strategic advisors, we encourage our team to stay curious and keep an eye on the trends, conversations and cultural moments capturing people’s attention, particularly across different generations.”

For businesses working in marketing and communications, he argued, understanding a cultural phenomenon does not necessarily require participating in it.

When it comes to employees taking leave for the launch, Mr Dalli similarly sees no need for employers to judge what constitutes a sufficiently worthy reason for a day off.

“We work hard, but we also believe people should have the space to enjoy the things they are passionate about outside of work. If GTA 6 is one of those things, then why not?”

The extraordinary level of interest surrounding the release also demonstrates how gaming has developed into a cultural and commercial force capable of generating anticipation comparable to major film, music and entertainment releases.

GTA 6 arrives more than 13 years after Grand Theft Auto V first launched in 2013. Its predecessor helped turn the franchise into one of the most commercially successful entertainment properties globally, with Rockstar parent Take-Two stating that the Grand Theft Auto series has sold more than 470 million units worldwide.

Rockstar has continued to build momentum ahead of November, with pre-orders already open and pre-loading due to begin on 12th November – giving eager gamers plenty of time to make sure no precious annual leave is wasted staring at a download screen.

Employees have lives and interests outside the office – and if one of those interests happens to involve spending launch day roaming the streets of Vice City, so be it.