‘Grand Theft Auto Flu’: is the whole world really taking the day off work to play GTA VI?

Headlines have claimed the release of the first new GTA game in 13 years will hugely affect the global economy on Thursday – but there’s another story that’s been left behind A new pandemic is threatening planet Earth. It’s scheduled to hit 19 November. Entire offices and worksites will be emptied; employees struck down by a mysterious illness. But you need not panic: it isn’t fatal. It should pass in a few days. The anticipation for Grand Theft Auto VI, the first new game in the franchise in 13 years, is so high that a steady stream of news coverage has suggested it heralds economic catastrophe due to workers taking time off to play the game. The term “GTA Flu” was coined for the swathe of sickies that reportedly happened when GTA V was released in 2013, and – supposedly – are set to happen again when GTA VI comes out this week. Continue reading...