Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick says he expects 'a lot of people will be calling in sick on November 19' when GTA 6 launches, echoing the infamous 'GTA 5 flu' phenomenon from 2013.
Part 1
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has weighed in on what he expects the impact of GTA 6's launch will look like — and it involves a lot of empty office chairs. Speaking at a recent conference, Zelnick said he 'thinks a lot of people will be calling in sick on November 19,' the day Grand Theft Auto VI finally hits shelves.
Part 2
The comment is a playful nod to a very real phenomenon. When GTA 5 launched in September 2013, 'GTA 5 flu' became a widely used term as legions of fans called in sick to work and school to play the game on day one. With GTA 6 expected to be the biggest entertainment launch in history, Zelnick clearly anticipates history repeating itself on an even larger scale.
Part 3
Zelnick elaborated on Take-Two's ambitions for the title, saying the company is focused on 'making the most spectacular piece of entertainment on Earth, in history — and it's a pretty daunting challenge.' He added that if they succeed in serving their community, 'then we'll do just fine' commercially.