Grand Theft Auto VI is expected to launch on November 19, 2026, and this time even professional athletes are worried about the game’s impact. Houston Rockets star Steven Adams recently at the team’s media day directly stated that everyone should “look forward to November” because GTA 6 is coming, and the overall performance of leagues like the NFL and NBA might decline.
Players aren’t the only ones who could vanish – coaches and scouts might disappear too!
Adams’ prediction extends beyond players. He jokes that November won’t only affect players – even coaches and scouts might have it “rough” because everyone will be busy playing GTA 6. He believes this situation will likely last about a month, and by December performance should gradually return to normal after players “finish” the game.
Adams isn’t the first to say this. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick earlier this year predicted there might be “many people calling in sick” when GTA 6 launches on November 19. Some companies have already given employees time off for the game’s release, showing just how insane this over-13-year wait has been.
How addictive will GTA 6 really be?
Of course, Adams’ comments were somewhat tongue-in-cheek – it’s not like the NBA or NFL will actually collectively decline because of GTA 6’s release. However, the timing is definitely awkward: the game launches on November 19 right when the NBA season has just begun and the NFL is still mid-season. Whether professional players maintain their discipline or sneak in late-night GTA 6 sessions, we’ll only find out in November.