No new coin behind GTA 6: $1B in lost US output vs. Take-Two’s $1B+ cash forecast

Roughly 1.5 million Americans could skip work for Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) on November 19, with lost output potentially reaching $1 billion in a day, according to economist José García Montalvo of Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona. IBTimes reported that the projection is an academic estimate rather than an official forecast. Montalvo gave no worker headcount during an interview with Spanish broadcaster Cadena SER, according to a second IBTimes report, and the 1.5 million figure surfaced later. The estimate targets men aged 18 to 30 and technology workers as the most likely to call in.

California auto parts company Burger Motorsports announced a company-wide operational pause for November 19. TechSpot reported that the notice appeared on Instagram.

Game publisher Take-Two Interactive (TTWO) separately forecasts more than $1 billion in operating cash flow this fiscal year, covering the fiscal year ending March 31, 2027. The matching figures measure different things: Montalvo’s estimate covers one day of potential US output loss, while Take-Two’s figure represents cash generated by the company’s core business over its full fiscal year. Nasdaq reported $624 million in operating cash flow for fiscal 2026. Take-Two also guides for $8 billion to $8.2 billion in net bookings, meaning total game and service sales, with GTA 6 anchoring the outlook.

TradingView data showed Take-Two shares near $206.70 on Wednesday, down 19.79% year to date and around 20% ahead of the anticipated launch. The stock was also down 12.5% over three months and 21.17% over a year. Its chart showed shares topping out in July before sliding sharply in early September. Take-Two described an exceptional start to GTA 6 pre-orders in August but disclosed no figures, and the share-price slump persisted even as the company held the November 19 date.

The two billion-dollar estimates do not mean Take-Two directly banks the output lost by the US economy. GTA 6 nevertheless affects corporate staffing and anchors the outlook of the listed publisher at the same time.