Blizzard Employees Taking Leave in November Due to GTA VI Release

Some players are very interested in World of Warcraft: Forever.

Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled for release on November 19, 2026, on the Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 consoles. Obviously, the launch of the new installment in the Rockstar Games franchise will be a massive event.

Some players have started preparing for the release in advance and have arranged time off from work. Analysts and researchers have taken notice and decided to estimate the potential economic damage, which could reach $1 billion in the United States.

There is another effect of GTA VI that might not be entirely obvious. Athletes are also into video games. Gamers’ attention was drawn to a statement by Houston Rockets basketball player Steven Adams, who suggests that athletes’ performance in professional sports might decline in November:

I will tell you this much: guys, you need to wait until November. Performance across all leagues—because of the release of GTA VI—is going to drop. So watch the NFL, watch all the other leagues, and see them crumble. Performance will drop specifically for November, the level will dip. Though later, of course, [performance] should return. Most guys will handle it. I hope they finish the game. Coaching work is going to dip too, by the way.

However, GTA VI is not the only release coming in November. Blizzard Entertainment recently announced World of Warcraft: Forever. Some players have also started reporting that they are taking time off that month, with the project’s release expected on November 5 (or 4, depending on the time zone). Judging by the comments, some are taking off for at least one week.

Thus, November will deal a double blow to the economy and sports: WoW: Forever will launch first, and Grand Theft Auto VI will debut a couple of weeks later.

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